- Date
- April 27, 2011, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chandler, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9683PPiper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110427007839A
- Case key
- 78986
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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that she was practicing three-point takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The first three takeoffs and landings were uneventful. During the landing roll of the fourth landing, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder; however, the airplane continued to the left and exited the runway onto a dirt surface. As the pilot added full power to attempt to avoid a taxiway sign and return to the runway, the airplane briefly became airborne before pitching down and pivoting to the right. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing struck the ground resulting in substantial damage. The airplane skidded nose down until coming to a rest. The wind was reported to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that she was practicing three-point touch-and-go landings in a tailwheel equipped airplane. The first three touch-and-goes were uneventful. During the landing roll of the fourth landing, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder, however, the airplane continued to the left and exited the runway onto a dirt surface. As the pilot added full power to attempt to avoid a taxiway sign and reenter the runway surface, the airplane briefly became airborne before pitching down and pivoting to the right. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing struck the ground resulting in substantial damage. The airplane skidded nose down until coming to a rest. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 110 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9683P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7509026
- Airframe hours
- 3,830
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chandler Air Services Inc.
- Registered owner
- Airspeed Moore LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 8, 2011 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- CHD · Chandler, AZ
- Destination
- CHD · Chandler, AZ
- Airport
- CHD · Chandler Municipal Airport, runway 04L, 4,401 × 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
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 23, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 622 total · 29 in this make and model · 389 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- CHD
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 444 KB in all.
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 N9683P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.