# NTSB MIA02FA098: Grob G120A, N866AF, Mobile, AZ, May 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2002, 14:42 local (21:42 UTC) - Place: Mobile, AZ - Coordinates: 33.108612, -112.280555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1086&lon=-112.2806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO FAA, Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc., Grob-Werke, Textron Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 54767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02FA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54767/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54767 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA098 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude clearance with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During the airplane's first flight after assembly, an eyewitness on the ground stated he observed it cross his field of vision, right to left, at a very low altitude and at very high rate of speed. The attitude of the airplane went progressively from 90 degrees of bank to wings level and nose down until it collided with the terrain in a flat attitude. He saw a perceptible nose rising, but it was too late to avoid impact with the desert floor. No discrepancies could be found with the airframe or engine, post crash. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 22, 2002, about 1442 mountain standard time, a Grob G120A, N866AF, registered to Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Mobile, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the airline transport rated flight instructor, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed Phoenix-Goodyear Municipal Airport, Goodyear, Arizona, at 1404. According to a statement by another training center instructor who was communicating on base radio about a landing gear indication problem with training aircraft N1569P during the time period 1420 to 1430, N866AF's pilot overheard and said he would lend assistance. After a quick descent from 7,000 feet msl, loosely joining on N1569P at 2,500 feet msl, and simultaneously stating his observations about landing gear and gear door positions on base radio frequency to base operations and to N1569P, N866AF detached at about 1430. Upon detaching, the pilot stated he was climbing back up to 7,000 feet msl, to resume his test flight. According to an eyewitness on the ground, at about 1440, he observed the aircraft traveling east to west, north of his position and south of the Lufthansa training airport at Mobile, at an extremely high rate of speed and low to the ground. The left wing was straight down and the right wing was straight up. He next observed the nose angle toward the ground, the wings roll level with the horizon, and simultaneously, the nose began to angle upward as the aircraft impacted the ground. He stated he thought there were two trainers in the landing pattern for the Mobile training airport at the time. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) airline transport pilot certificate for airplane multiengine land and a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine, multiengine, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on December 3, 2001, with the limitation, "holder shall wear corrective lenses while exercising the privileges of his FAA certificate". The pilot successfully completed a biennial flight review in December, 2000. The pilot was employed by Airline Training Center Arizona as an instructor pilot on June 18, 1990, and was furloughed on September 30, 1993. He was rehired on January 4, 1999, and upgraded to the Flight Standards department on February 17, 2001. The pilot's immediate supervisor stated that, "[the pilot] was known as a conscientious and thorough check pilot." On the day of the accident, the pilot reported for duty at 0530, and his only flight that day was the accident flight. On the day prior to the accident, the pilot reported for duty at 0530 and flew two flights, a Grob instructional flight with one student for 2:05 hours and a Bonanza instructional flight with one student for 2:25 hours. Two days prior to the accident, the pilot reported for duty at 0830 and flew two instructional flights, a Bonanza with one student for 1:45 hours and a Grob flight with one student for 1:30 hours. Three days prior to the accident was a weekend day and the pilot had a day off. Nothing unusual was reported on any of the training flights prior to the accident flight. According to the pilot's wife, a 72-hour history of the pilot's personal life indicated no stressful conditions that could have influenced pilot performance. Family member interactions appeared to be centered around construction of their horse ranch and barn with his father-in-law's help, a long range mutual plan that was finally becoming a reality, and planning for his niece's graduation with his two daughters. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The German manufactured aircraft was the sixth Grob G-120A that had been delivered to the Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc. Upon its delivery to the training center by ship and overland container transport from the factory in Germany on March 29, 2002, while uncrating, it was discovered that the aircraft fuselage had shifted position on its shipping cradle, and was slightly damaged. The carbon fiber composite, (CFC) constructed airframe utilizes glass reinforced plastic, (GRP) for ailerons, flaps, rudder, and trim tabs. The top of the vertical stabilizer and the under wing trailing edge fillet area sustained scraping. Additionally, some lower fuselage drain tubes were bent, two propeller tips had dragged, (not bent), and the spinner was dented. After uncrating, the wings, rudder, and elevators were reinstalled, the fuselage scrapes were repaired, the drain tubes were replaced, the engine and propeller were inspected and their respective manufacturers were consulted for remedial disposition, the spinner was replaced, and some unrelated, minor post delivery modifications were accomplished. The work was accomplished and signed off by Grob Systems, the U.S. distributor, of Bluffton, Ohio, on April 29, 2002. A copy of the maintenance records and repairs accomplished on N866AF are an attachment to this report. Total time on the aircraft at the time was 5:32 flight hours, which represented 4 to 5 production test flights in Germany prior to partial disassembly, containerization, and shipment to the U.S. Following reassembly and system ground checks, the FAA certified the aircraft's airworthiness on May 22, 2002, shortly before the accident. The accident occurred as the aircraft was being test flown for the first time since its reassembly. The first five G-120A's had been test flown by a Grob production test pilot who traveled to Phoenix from the factory in Germany. That pilot left Phoenix and returned to Germany on March 30, 2001. According to the Grob mechanic responsible for N866AF's reassembly, 21 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel were pumped into each wing fuel tank for fuel tank quantity calibration purposes on April 29, 2002. The fuel had undergone contamination testing the day of the fuelling. The aircraft had not been fueled since the calibration fuel load, and following two short engine runs, it was estimated by the mechanic and operations personnel that about 19 gallons per wing tank remained for the test flight. A report of the daily fuel sump check, as well as the quantity pumped into N866AF is an attachment to this report. The aircraft is equipped with two Fischer-manufactured energy absorbing, "safety shell" pilot 's seats. Shock absorbers in the seat structure collapse progressively under high loading to protect the pilot. The seats are equipped with Schroth-manufactured 5-point pilot safety restraint harnesses. The aircraft is equipped with a large, rearward sliding canopy using two lever-type operating handles mounted on a longitudinally oriented center bow, one an interior handle, and the other, an external handle. The interior handle's normal range of motion is from fully forward, (closed and fully locked position) to 90 degrees downward, (open position), but for emergency egress, the handle can be pulled further rearward for 170 degrees of aft travel, after first pulling a red safety locking handle. This action would jettison the canopy by releasing the attachment points on the guide rails. The canopy is not powered and must be manually moved closed or open. The red handle extends about 2.5 inches into the free space of the cockpit from its overhead mounted location. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Phoenix METAR for 1505 local time was; winds from 260 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, cloud ceiling was broken at 25,000 feet msl, barometric pressure was 29.84 inHg, temperature was 81 degrees F, with a dew point temperature of 18 degrees F. The computed density altitude was 3,054 feet and the pressure altitude was 1,335 feet. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMA ## Aircraft - Registration: [N866AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N866AF-2002-07-15), registration cancelled 2002-07-15, S/N 85006, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grob G120A - Registry model: [Grob-Werke G 120A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grob-werke-g-120a) (registry code 1660208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming L-540-T4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-l-540-t4b5) (registry code 41563, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 85006 - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 22, 2002, 0.5 hours before - Departed: GYR, Goodyear, AZ - Airport: 1AZO, Mobile ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,170 total, 64 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PHX, 31 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020522013589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020522013589A), May 22, 2002: Grob G120A, Mobile, AZ, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft shipped from german manufacturer. Acft. Reassembled following shipment. Acft sustained minor damage during shipment. Minor composite repair… ## Docket (29 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54767. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 300 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement A (item 2, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20A-Master.PDF - Supplement B (item 3, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20B-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA Inspector's Statement-Engine Exam (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Engine%20Exam-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #1 (item 5, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%231-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #2 (item 6, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%232-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #3 (item 7, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172444&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%233-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #4 (item 8, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%234-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #5 (item 9, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%235-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #6 (item 10, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%236-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Reports- ATCA Instructor's Statement #7 (item 11, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Reports-%20ATCA%20Instructor%27s%20Statement%20%237-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 12, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-A/C Maintenance Log Pages (item 13, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-A%2FC%20Maintenance%20Log%20Pages-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Fuelling Contamination Check (item 14, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Fuelling%20Contamination%20Check-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Fuelling Record for N866AF (item 15, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Fuelling%20Record%20for%20N866AF-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Pilot's last 72-hour History (item 16, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Pilot%27s%20last%2072-hour%20History-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Grob Sample Flight Test Report Form (item 17, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Grob%20Sample%20Flight%20Test%20Report%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-N866AF's Maint. Logs showing shipping damage repairs (item 18, .PDF, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-N866AF%27s%20Maint.%20Logs%20showing%20shipping%20damage%20repairs-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 19, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Grob Pilot (item 20, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Grob%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 21, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 22, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Photo #1 Accident site overview-supplied by Maricopa County Sheriff (item 23, .PDF, 338 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%20Accident%20site%20overview-supplied%20by%20Maricopa%20County%20Sheriff-Master.PDF - Photo #2 Wreckage (item 24, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%20%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo #3 Wreckage-left side (item 25, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%233%20Wreckage-left%20side-Master.PDF - Photo #4 Right side and empennage (item 26, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%234%20Right%20side%20and%20empennage-Master.PDF - Photo #5 Engine and propeller (item 27, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%235%20Engine%20and%20propeller-Master.PDF - Photo #6 Propeller and spinner (item 28, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%236%20Propeller%20and%20spinner-Master.PDF - Photo #7 Cockpit/canopy (item 29, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%237%20Cockpit%2Fcanopy-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.