Air Creation Buggy accident near Benson, Arizona, November 13, 2020
On November 13, 2020 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 2001 Air Creation Buggy (weight-shift aircraft), registered N2764N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Benson, Arizona (Benson Municipal 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
The non-rated pilot’s unstable approach and failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in a hard landing and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2020 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Benson, Arizona · Benson Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Creation Buggy, built 2001 · all Buggys on the register
- Registration
- N2764N · registry record · serial T0126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-rated pilot reported that he was landing the weight control shift aircraft. While on a final approach, about 40 ft above the ground, he increased the engine power to arrest an excessive descent rate. The rapid descent continued, and the front tire struck the edge of the runway. As a result, the front wheel assembly “broke” and got jammed on the throttle cable, and with its weight on the cable, set the throttle setting to full. The aircraft tookoff and became airborne. The pilot safely maneuvered the aircraft at full throttle around the traffic pattern and initiated a power off landing north of the runway in the dirt field. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft “somersaulted” once before coming to a stop. Both wings were substantially damaged. The non-rated pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 345 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 8, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 773 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 351 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from KFHU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.