LAX98LA217

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca Chief 65-CA · Phoenix, AZ · June 29, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 29, 1998, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
Place
Phoenix, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N34482Aeronca Chief 65-CA
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 15, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980629015269A
Case key
30135

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout.

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 - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswind
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot performed a full-stall landing and, during the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the left. He stated that he applied aileron to keep the aircraft level, but the airplane continued to pull to the left. He decided to roll off the runway in order to avoid having the right wing contact the ground. The aircraft struck the visual approach slope indicator lights. The pilot reported that he had not noted any crosswind component noticed on the final approach. He further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On June 29, 1998, at 1005 hours mountain standard time, an Aeronca Chief 65-CA, N34482, struck the lights at the end of the runway at the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. The local personal flight was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he performed a full-stall landing on runway 25R. During the rollout, the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot stated that he applied aileron to try to keep the plane level, but the airplane continued to pull to the left. He reported that to avoid having the right wing contact the ground, he decided to roll off the runway. The aircraft contacted the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights causing damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

The pilot reported that he had not noticed any crosswind component on the final approach. The wind was from 220 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N34482
Reported as
Aeronca Chief 65-CA (CHIEF 65-C)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
C14941
Airframe hours
2,889
Engine
Continental A&C65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Derwin Grimm Jr.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 1998 · 20 hours before
Departed
DVT
Airport
DVT · Deer Valley Municipal, runway 25, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
37
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
152 total · 145 in this make and model · 93 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 10 knots
Visibility
40 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
100 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
DVT

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N34482 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.