Amateur-built MB-1 accident near Madras, Oregon, October 8, 1994
On October 8, 1994 at about 8:40 pm local time, a amateur-built MB-1, registered N51MB, was destroyed in an accident near Madras, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE JAMMING OF THE RUDDER DURING DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1994 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Madras, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MB-1
- Registration
- N51MB · registry record · serial 101
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING OUT AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HOME BUILT AIRPLANE SUDDENLY ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY LEFT RUDDER BUT COULD NOT. THE RUDDER HAD JAMMED TO THE RIGHT. WHILE THE PILOT CONTINUED TO MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE AND REMEDY THE SITUATION, HE SUDDENLY OBSERVED POWERLINES AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE AND BANKED AWAY FROM THEM. THE AIRPLANE AERODYNAMICALLY STALLED AND SPUN INTO THE GROUND DURING THE MANEUVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE TO DETERMINE FLIGHT CONTROL FUNCTION WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO FIRE AND IMPACT DAMAGE.
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: 197 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda 12A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: S33 OR at 8:35 pm
- Destination: Prineville OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from RDM, 16 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.