LAX06CA097

The airplane nosed over during landing rollout after swerving off the runway onto the adjacent soft ground. The pilot made a normal 3-point landing on the 100-foot-wide by 5,300-foot-long runway in the light and variable wind condition. The pilot said that after the airplane was rolling on the ground it veered to the right and she overcorrected to the left. She attempted to bring the airplane back to the center of the runway but was unsuccessful, and the airplane veered off the runway and entered a soft plowed field. The airplane nosed over after encountering the soft soil.

On January 29, 2006, about 1015 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N62712, nosed over during landing rollout at the U of A Maricopa Ag Center (private airstrip), about 4 miles east-northeast of Maricopa, Arizona. The airplane was operated by Chandler Air Service, Inc., Chandler, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor passenger was injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Chandler about 0945.

The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that she made a normal 3-point landing on runway 18 in the light and variable wind condition. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report" she indicated that after the airplane landed it pulled to the right and she overcorrected to the left. She attempted to bring the airplane back to the center of the runway but was unsuccessful, and the airplane veered off the runway and entered a plowed field.

The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that she failed to adequately react to the situation, and she lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane swerved off the east side of the estimated 100-foot-wide by 5,300-foot-long runway, rolled onto the soft dirt, and nosed over.