20230521009389A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aviat A-1B · Mobile, AZ · May 21, 2023

Date: May 21, 2023 · 08:30 local
Place: Mobile, AZ
Airport: Motown
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N108AM
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR23LA195
Reported as: Aviat A-1B
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Private pilot, student
Pilot’s flight hours: 480 total30 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N108AMRegistered now · Aviat A-1BS/N 2136 · Built 2001 Airframe modelAviat A-1B Engine modelLycoming 0-360-A1DReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Airman (and passenger) was conduction recreational flight with a friend who was flying his own airplane. After flying aroung the area south of phoenix, both went to KA39 (AK chin) airport for fuel. After departing AK chin, both went to 5AZ6 (Mobile) to practice landings and take-offs at the dirt runway. Airman was attempting to land on the runway and allowed the aircraft to enter a rapid rate of decent just before touchdown. This caused the aircraft to bounce off the runway. The airman attempted control the aircraft and continue to land. The airman allowed the aircraft to stall and result in an even greater rate of descent. The aircraft struck the ground causing a loud "crack". The airman attempted to maintain heading with rudder and brakes but the aircraft began a progressive yaw to the left. The aircraft left the runway and struck a low berm causing the aircraft to pitch over onto its nose and came to rest. Both airman and passenger exited the aircraft with no injuries.

As the FAA filed it

AIRMAN (AND PASSENGER) WAS CONDUCTION RECREATIONAL FLIGHT WITH A FRIEND WHO WAS FLYING HIS OWN AIRPLANE. AFTER FLYING AROUNG THE AREA SOUTH OF PHOENIX, BOTH WENT TO KA39 (AK CHIN) AIRPORT FOR FUEL. AFTER DEPARTING AK CHIN, BOTH WENT TO 5AZ6 (MOBILE) TO PRACTICE LANDINGS AND TAKE-OFFS AT THE DIRT RUNWAY. AIRMAN WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER A RAPID RATE OF DECENT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BOUNCE OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT AND CONTINUE TO LAND. THE AIRMAN ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL AND RESULT IN AN EVEN GREATER RATE OF DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING A LOUD "CRACK". THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN HEADING WITH RUDDER AND BRAKES BUT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A PROGRESSIVE YAW TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A LOW BERM CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH OVER ONTO ITS NOSE AND CAME TO REST. BOTH AIRMAN AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR23LA195Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMobile, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and nose over.May 21, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N108AM · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20090528011979ICruise/Level Flight · Colorado Sprin, CO(-23) The aircraft was flying in the area of Colorado Springs,CO conducting an instructional flight. After a 45 minute flight Colorado Springs tower was called for a return landing. As the aircraft was returning the engine faltered and surged. The pilot…May 28, 2009 · No damage