LAX05CA195

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing A75N-1 · Paulden, AZ · June 5, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 5, 2005, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Paulden, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N351AHBoeing A75N-1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20050605011089A
Case key
61648

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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall mush and collision with objects.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Weather condition - tailwind
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - gusts
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - encounteredPilot in command
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - fence
Object - residence
Object - other

Analysis

The airplane collided with objects in the takeoff initial climb, substantially damaging the airplane. On his second flight of the day, the pilot did not receive a weather briefing, but did visually check the weather and windsock before takeoff. He stated that the windsock showed an 8-knot wind from the south. He used runway 8 for the takeoff and rotated about 60 knots. He started a left turn about halfway down the runway, using 30 to 45 degrees of bank. The airplane was about 100 feet above ground level. He stated that 20 degrees into the turn, he "felt the aircraft shudder and the left wing drop." He then relaxed back pressure and leveled the wings. The airplane's right landing gear then impacted a 5-foot-high fence. The airplane continued beyond the fence, and collided with other objects. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noted that the windsock showed a gusting wind from the southwest. The closest official weather observation station was about 16 nautical miles (nm) southeast of the accident site, and was reporting winds from 220 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 21 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On June 5, 2005, about 1330 mountain standard time, a Boeing A75N-1, N351AH, collided with a fence and other objects after takeoff near the Big Springs Ranch Airport, Paulden, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Paulden about 1330. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot noted that the flight was the second flight of the day with the purpose of sightseeing with friends. He did not receive a weather briefing, but did visually check the weather and windsock before takeoff. He stated that the windsock showed an 8-knot wind from the south. He used runway 8 for the takeoff and rotated about 60 knots. He started a left turn about halfway down the runway, using 30 to 45 degrees of bank. The airplane was about 100 feet above ground level. He stated that 20 degrees into the turn, he "felt the aircraft shudder and the left wing drop." He then relaxed back pressure and leveled the wings.

The airplane's right landing gear impacted a 5-foot-high fence. The airplane continued beyond the fence, and collided with a trailer, lawnmower, garage, and driveway. Damage was incurred to the right main gear, both the upper and lower wings, the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer, and the propeller. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noted that the windsock showed a gusting wind from the southwest.

The closest official weather observation station was Prescott, Arizona (PRC), which was about 16 nautical miles (nm) southeast of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl). An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for PRC was issued at 1353. It stated: winds from 220 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 21 knots.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N351AH
Reported as
Boeing A75N-1
Category
Airplane
Serial number
75-12351
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R-985-N1, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Alan Hoover, doing business as Breeze Flying Service
Registered owner
Breeze Flying Service, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
AZ27 · Paulden, AZ
Destination
AZ27 · Paulden, AZ
Airport
AZ27 · Big Springs Ranch Airport

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
54
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Flight hours
13,999 total · 173 in this make and model · 9,865 as pilot in command · 273 in the last 90 days · 101 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 17 knots, gusting 21
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
PRC, 16 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.