# NTSB LAX04LA071: Piper PA-11, N5516H, Gilbert, AZ, December 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Gilbert, AZ - Coordinates: 33.333332, -111.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3333&lon=-111.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58507 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58507/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA071 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane came to rest inverted after attempting to land in a soft dirt field. The pilot was attempting to land in an alfalfa field next to his home. He had successfully completed landings in the field prior to the accident. The dirt in the field had recently been lightly disked. Upon touchdown, the airplane's main landing gear sunk into the soft terrain. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 2003, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-11, N5516H, came to rest inverted after attempting to land in a soft dirt field in Gilbert, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local area flight departed from Millar Airport, Maricopa, Arizona, at 1330 with a planned destination of the private field. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident scene. He reported that the pilot was attempting to land in a soft dirt field. Upon touchdown, the airplane's main landing gear sunk into the soft terrain. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The damage incurred from the accident included a bent wing strut, a bent rudder, and several holes wing skin. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land in an alfalfa field next to his home. He had successfully completed landings in the field prior to the accident. The dirt in the field had recently been lightly disked. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5516H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5516H), registered now, S/N 11-1018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-1018 - Engines: Continental C90-B 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arie DeJong - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2003, 15 hours before - Departed: 2AZ4, Maricopa, AZ - Destination: GILBERT, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,450 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: PHX, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031217036439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217036439A), Dec 17, 2003: Piper PA11, Gilbert, AZ, Substantial damage. (-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… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.