N31EJGENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9 BLOCK 12023-05-15 NTSB Accident Report

Destroyed
None

GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9 BLOCK 1S/N: GA-6-1013

Summary

On May 15, 2023, a General Atomics MQ-9 BLOCK 1 (N31EJ) was involved in an incident near Elgin, AZ. The aircraft was destroyed.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s loss of situational awareness, resulting in the UAS’s controlled flight into terrain.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DCA23LA290. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N31EJ.

Accident Details

Date
Monday, May 15, 2023
NTSB Number
DCA23LA290
Location
Elgin, AZ
Event ID
20230518180444
Coordinates
31.677333, -110.479000
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s loss of situational awareness, resulting in the UAS’s controlled flight into terrain.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
GENERAL ATOMICS
Serial Number
GA-6-1013
Engine Type
Turbo-jet
Model / ICAO
MQ-9 BLOCK 1
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
0
FAA Model
MQ-9 BLOCK 1

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Address
1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW RM 8.4C
City
WASHINGTON
State / Zip Code
DC 20229-0002
Country
United States

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DCA23LA290