Amateur-built AERO SPEC 2150 accident near Payson, Arizona, May 2, 1999
On May 2, 1999 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AERO SPEC 2150, registered N2103Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate use of the rudder controls to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in veering off the runway and ground looping in tall vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1999 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AERO SPEC 2150 AERO SPEC
- Registration
- N2103Z · registry record · serial 890001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing the conventional gear airplane onto the runway, the pilot checked the windsock for winds and noted a calm indication. After lifting the tail off the runway on the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to return the airplane to centerline with rudder and brake inputs, but was unsuccessful. He noted that he was at rotation speed and made an unsuccessful attempt to takeoff in ground effect. The airplane departed the runway at a high rate of speed into a grass field, and subsequently ground looped before coming to rest.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 384 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 328 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 919 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 8, 1998; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,817 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E69 at 5:45 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PRC, 57 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX99LA168.