- Date
- February 13, 2018, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5726HPiper PA 16
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180213002539A
- Case key
- 96744
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the touchdown, a wind gust struck the airplane from the right. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located on the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 7L.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the touchdown, a gust of wind struck the airplane from the right. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right and the left gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located on the accident airport reported, that about the time of the accident the wind was from 180° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 7L.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5726H
- Reported as
- Piper PA 16 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16-338
- Built
- 1949
- Airframe hours
- 2,135
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2017
- Departed
- SEZ · Sedona, AZ
- Destination
- DVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Airport
- DVT · Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 07L, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 24,000 total · 2.2 in this make and model · 23,500 as pilot in command · 2.2 in the last 90 days · 2.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KDVT
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.