Gardner E-RACER MARK II N96WM
4 April 1994 · Parker, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 4 April 1994 at about 21:00 local time, a Gardner E-RACER MARK II registered N96WM, operated by Wesley C. Gardner, was involved in an accident near Parker, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Parker, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Avi Suquilla (P20)
- Coordinates
- 34.0792, -114.2191
- Aircraft
- Gardner E-RACER MARK II
- Registration
- N96WM
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Wesley C. Gardner
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Redlands
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA177
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft while maneuvering in the traffic pattern following a failure of the throttle control. A factor in the accident was a throttle linkage separation after takeoff.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
About 15 minutes after departure on a cross-country flight, the pilot reported on the UNICOM that he was inbound to the airport for landing. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying over the departure end of the runway, at approximately 400 feet agl and observed a momentary pitch oscillation as the aircraft entered a steeply banked left turn. The aircraft continued in the turn, descending gradually toward the ground until impact. The witnesses described the engine sounds as 'unusually loud.' The carburetor throttle body was found in a nearly full-open position while the cockpit twist grip throttle control linkage was found separated at a ball swivel fitting. The throttle grip was found separated from the twist grip throttle. The throttle linkage parts were reportedly not aircraft quality materials. The pilot had recorded in a notebook previous trim problems in which he was required to hold constant back pressure to maintain level flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1994 | Cessna 210L | Payson, Arizona, United States | Dairy Queen of S. Arizona, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1994 | James B Edwards COZY | Skull Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Bell 206-B3 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 4 Jan 1994 | Bell 206B | Coolidge Dam, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1994 | Cessna 172K | Springerville, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |