# Accident 19990618024099A: Amtr MXLII, Tonopah, AZ, June 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 1999, 19:00 local time
- Place: Tonopah, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4298° N, 113.0502° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4298&lon=-113.0502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98MD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98MD-1999-12-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Devor Michael MXL II (registry code 05604L0, https://openairdocs.org/model/devor-michael-mxl-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR MXLII
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA223) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990618024099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JUNE 18, 1999, AT 1900 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A HOMEBUILT DEVOR MXL II, N98MD (.19 INDICATED N4824D WHICH IS INCORRECT) IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING IN AN OPEN FIELD IN TONOPAH, ARIZONA, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WEST OF BUCKEYE, ARIZONA. THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE UNCERTIFICATED PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AND ORIGINATED ON THE PILOT'S PROPERTY IN TONOPAH AT AN UNSPECIFIED TIME. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ANOTHER PILOT WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN IN THE AIRCRAFT ONLY TO PRACTICE PICKUPS AND SET DOWNS AND HADN'T ACTUALLY INTENDED TO TAKE OFF. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND STARTED CLIMBING. THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS.                                                                                                                                                            (-23) WITNESS STATEMENT ATTACHED. (.4)ANOTHER PILOT WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT.  HE REPORTED THAT THE PILOT TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A GRADUAL CLIMB TO APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL AND TURNED EAST.  THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN.  THE WITNESS STATED THAT IT DID NOT SOUND AS IF THE THROTTLE WAS SET AT FULL POWER AND OPINED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY SUFFICIENT POWER TO COMPLETE THE TURN.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR, ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS' ESTIMATION.  THE WITNESS STATED THAT AT NO TIME DID HE HEAR THE ENGINE CUT OUT OR STOP AND THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.  HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN SOLO APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS REPORT, THE PILOT WAS HOSPITALIZED AND IN A COMA.  NO ONE ELSE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OR FURTHER DETAILS.  ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRMAN CERTIFICATION RECORD FILES, THE PILOT HAS NEVER HELD AN FAA PILOT'S CERTIFICATE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA223), Jun 19, 1999: Devor MXL II (N98MD), Tonopah, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the uncertificated pilot to maintain control of the aircraft.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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