Amateur-built AERO PHAETON accident near Mead, Washington, May 17, 1993
On May 17, 1993 at about 1:15 am local time, a amateur-built AERO PHAETON, registered N54BR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mead, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A STALL CONDITION. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1993 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Mead, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AERO PHAETON AERO PHAET
- Registration
- N54BR · registry record · serial 884-3080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A GUST WHICH ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT LEFT. DURING HIS RECOVERY HE WAS 'CAUGHT IMMEDIATELY BY A SECOND WIND GUST CAUSING OF COURSE THE PORT WING TO STALL, SENDING THE PLANE INTO A HALF SPIN.' THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT'S IMPACTING TREES/TERRAIN.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 287 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-80-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.