# NTSB LAX06CA097: Piper PA-18-150, N62712, Maricopa, AZ, January 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2006, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.076667, -111.983329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0767&lon=-111.9833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63175/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A factor was the soft dirt adjacent to the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62712](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62712), registered now, S/N 18-7809105, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7809105 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chandler Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: 3AZ2, Maricopa, AZ - Airport: 3AZ2, U of A Maricopa AG Center, runway 18, 5,300 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 141 total, 31 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20060129001949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060129001949A), Jan 29, 2006: Piper PA18150, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman landed at Maricopa ag center strip (3AZ2), a hard-packed dirt strip. Upon landing, airman drifted to the right and then overcorrected to the left,… ## Other investigations on N62712 (2) 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. - [NTSB LAX04CA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA214), May 19, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N62712), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper application of brakes during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. - [NTSB LAX03LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA103), Mar 1, 2003: Piper PA-18-150 (N62712), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the CFI's inadequate supervision and delayed decision to abort the takeoff resulted in the runway overrun. 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.