General Atomics MQ-9 accident near Sierra Vista, Arizona, November 13, 2020
On November 13, 2020 at about 7:26 pm local time, a 2012 General Atomics MQ-9, registered CBP233, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Sierra Vista, Arizona (Sierra Vista Municipal Airport). It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s incorrect automated landing profile selection, which resulted in an impact with a runway trench. Contributing to the accident was the pilot receiving instruction's and instructor's failure to spot the incorrect landing profile selection during prelanding checks.
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 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Sierra Vista, Arizona · Sierra Vista Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- General Atomics MQ-9 B, built 2012 · all MQ-9s on the register
- Registration
- CBP233 · no longer on the register · serial CBP233
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Operations Supervisor reported that the instructional flight with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was programmed for a single takeoff and traffic pattern to a full-stop landing. During the pre-landing checks, the pilot under instruction selected the incorrect landing profile, which did not account for the current runway displaced threshold because of runway construction. Shortly before touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around but the landing gear impacted a runway trench, and subsequently the UAV impacted the ground. A post-crash fire ensued and the UAV was destroyed. The supervisor added that neither the instructor pilot nor the pilot receiving instruction spotted the incorrect selection during the pre-landing checks.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,258 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 798 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 17, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,863 hours in all; 6,039 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 4,912 as pilot in command; 1,127 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 28, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,139.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 28, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KFHU Sierra Vista AZ at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 9,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 11:58 am from KFHU
Weather report (METAR): KFHU 131858Z AUTO 31007KT 10SM OVC220 19/01 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01900012
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Memorandum | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | 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.