# Accident 20240317003269A: Holmes William B AIR CREATION TWIN, Gila Bend, AZ, March 17, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2024, 09:40 local time
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Airport: Gila Bend Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.9601° N, 112.6736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9601&lon=-112.6736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4425L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4425L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Holmes William B AIR CREATION TWIN (registry code 059037H, https://openairdocs.org/model/holmes-william-b-air-creation-twin) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOLMES WILLIAM B AIR CREATION TWIN
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240317003269A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 17, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:40AM, AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT MODEL AIR CREATIONS CRASHED WITH 2 PERSONS ABOARD AT GILA BEND (GBN) AIRPORT WHILE EXECUTING A GO-AROUND DURING TRAFFIC PATTERNS.  THE PIC WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PASSENGER WAS PURCHASING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE PIC AND PART OF THE AGREEMENT WAS THE PIC^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WOULD TEACH THE BUYER HOW TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT.

WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AT AN UNKNOWN ALTITUDE, THE PIC TOOK CONTROL FROM THE BUYER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND AND SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PIC TRIED TO CORRECT BACK LEFT TO THE RUNWAY COURSE BUT WAS LOW ENOUGH TO STRIKE THE LEFT WING ON A SMALL TREE, CAUSING THE PLANE TO DEPART CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND CRASH APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET BEYOND THE TREE.  THE WRECKAGE WAS IN THE CLEAR AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND DESERT FOLIAGE, APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

THE PASSENGER WAS INTERVIEWED AND SAID THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A MECHANICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE PIC TO LOSE CONTROL.  HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THE PIC WENT TO THE RIGHT AFTER TAKING CONTROL.  NO WITNESS INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN THE PASSENGER.

## 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 WPR24FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA112), Mar 17, 2024: Holmes William B AIR Creation Twin (N4425L), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control and subsequent collision with a mesquite tree on approach to land.

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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