# Accident 20031217036439A: Piper PA11, Gilbert, AZ, December 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2003, 15:00 local time
- Place: Gilbert, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3333° N, 111.7833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3333&lon=-111.7833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5516H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5516H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217036439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING AN ATTEMPTED SOFT FIELD LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS TOP. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE HAD RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. THE LEFT WING STRUT, TAIL, ENGINE, PROP, ENGINE COWL, AIRBOX, AND WINDSHIELD WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PAX AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL (EXPIRED 11/30/03). END.

## 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 LAX04LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA071), Dec 17, 2003: Piper PA-11 (N5516H), Gilbert, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing touchdown in soft terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

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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