Cruz SE5A REPLICA N3944U

Summary

On 9 October 2009 at about 20:54 local time, a Cruz SE5A REPLICA registered N3944U, operated by Gary H. Steinke, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 October 2009 at 20:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT)

Coordinates

33.6881, -112.0825

Aircraft

Cruz SE5A REPLICA

Registration

N3944U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary H. Steinke

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Phoenix → Phoenix

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10LA010

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in a stall/spin and impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the initial climb after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane make a right turn and then enter into a nose down spin before impacting a scrap metal yard where it was subsequently consumed by a postimpact fire. Witnesses further reported that the engine sounded smooth and was producing power akin to takeoff power. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the site and were able to identify all of the hardware for the flight controls. A postaccident engine inspection revealed no mechanical difficulties that would have precluded normal operation. The owner of the airplane reported that this was the pilot's first flight in the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.