Amateur-built F 1 ROCKET accident near Sedona, Arizona, March 21, 2015
On March 21, 2015 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2001 amateur-built F 1 ROCKET, registered N747MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during final approach for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination of the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2015 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built F 1 ROCKET NO SERIES, built 2001
- Registration
- N747MC · registry record · serial 79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, on final approach to landing, he added power to maintain the desired glidepath, but the engine did not respond. Despite adjusting the throttle and additional troubleshooting efforts, the pilot noted no response from the engine. He reported that the engine remained running between 1,200 and 1,300 rpm. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road about 1 mile southwest of the airport, and, during the landing roll, the airplane struck desert vegetation and then came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 305 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 2, 2014; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Steelesky LTD
The flight
- Departed from: Prescott AZ at 5:55 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KSEZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR15LA131.