Nbb INC GLASAIR III accident near Young, Arizona, April 26, 2014
On April 26, 2014 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1999 Nbb INC GLASAIR III, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N911EX, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Young, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to enter instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2014 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Young, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Nbb INC GLASAIR III UNDESIGNAT, built 1999, amateur-built
- Registration
- N911EX · no longer on the register · serial 3313
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noninstrument-rated private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight; no records were found indicating that the pilot obtained an official weather briefing before departing on the flight. During the flight, the pilot contacted an air route traffic control center (ARTCC) and stated that he was trapped underneath a cloud layer in mountainous terrain and that the visibility was deteriorating. He then declared an emergency. In response to the ARTCC controller, the pilot provided the airplane's GPS position coordinates. Subsequently, the controller was unable to make further direct contact with the pilot due to the mountainous terrain and initiated a relayed conversation using pilots of nearby high-flying aircraft in an attempt to direct the pilot to the nearest airport reporting visual meteorological conditions (VMC). During the ensuing conversation, the ARTCC controller identified one airport with VMC, but the pilot stated he could not get there without help, presumably due to intervening instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The closest airport to the accident airplane reported wind 240 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 24 knots, visibility 3/4 mile in snow, and ceilings at 100 ft. An airplane attempting an instrument approach to that airport executed a missed approach and left the area, and this was communicated to the accident pilot. While the controller was checking for other reachable airports, all contact with the pilot was lost. The airplane was found in mountainous terrain directly below the pilot's first position report, and examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain in a steep descent. The engine and propeller examinations revealed signs consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. Because the wreckage was found near the pilot's first position report, it is likely that the pilot loitered in a small geographic area underneath the clouds before entering IMC. He subsequently lost visual reference and was unable to maintain airplane control.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 3, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 2014
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KHOB Hobbs NM at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KFFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; a few clouds at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KPAN, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.