Grob G120A accident near Mobile, Arizona, May 22, 2002
On May 22, 2002 at about 9:42 pm local time, a Grob G120A, registered N866AF, was destroyed in an accident near Mobile, Arizona (Mobile airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude clearance with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2002 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Mobile, Arizona · Mobile · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grob G120A
- Registration
- N866AF · no longer on the register · serial 85006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the airplane's first flight after assembly, an eyewitness on the ground stated he observed it cross his field of vision, right to left, at a very low altitude and at very high rate of speed. The attitude of the airplane went progressively from 90 degrees of bank to wings level and nose down until it collided with the terrain in a flat attitude. He saw a perceptible nose rising, but it was too late to avoid impact with the desert floor. No discrepancies could be found with the airframe or engine, post crash.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,170 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 22, 2002; 0.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,175 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR Goodyear AZ at 9:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PHX, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.