Amateur-built SA-3A accident near Jackpot, Nevada, May 21, 1989
On May 21, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-3A, registered N2278P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackpot, Nevada (Jackpot airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE WIND COMPENSATION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE GUSTY GROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jackpot, Nevada · Jackpot · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-3A · all SA-3As on the register
- Registration
- N2278P · registry record · serial 333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LANDING IN GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE ACFT VEERED OFF RUNWAY, RECROSSED RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED THE LANDING IN SUCH WINDY CONDITIONS.
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: 365 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TWF Twin Falls ID at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,277 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.