# NTSB WPR14TA278: Rockwell International 500 S, N101AA, Willcox, AZ, July 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 2, 2014, 19:30 local (Jul 3, 2014, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Willcox, AZ - Coordinates: 32.245555, -109.894721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2456&lon=-109.8947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14TA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14TA278 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to compensate for tailwind conditions and maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was being operated as an air-attack coordinator for aerial, forest firefighting activity. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the vicinity of the destination airport, he was not able to see any wind indicators due to the low-light conditions at dusk. He contacted a fixed-base operator at the airport and was advised that the wind was light and variable, and, as he continued the approach, he noted that the tetrahedron was indicating a right quartering tailwind of "unknown strength." Following touchdown, the airplane immediately drifted right, which the pilot attributed to a 15-knot right quartering tailwind. Despite his attempts to manipulate the throttle to regain directional control, the airplane veered off the runway surface at an estimated ground speed of about 120 mph. The airplane encountered soft sand, and the pilot was subsequently unable to steer the airplane, which resulted in the left wing colliding with terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 02, 2014, about 1930 mountain standard time, a Rockwell International Aero Commander 500S, veered off the runway and collided with terrain at the Cochise County Airport, Willcox, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as an air-attack coordinator for aerial forest firefighting activity under a "call when needed" contract to the United States Forest Service (USFS) by American East Airways Corp., d.b.a. Houston Air as a public-use flight. The airline transport pilot and crew member were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local area flight departed from Willcox about 1745. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed.The pilot stated that as the airplane approached the vicinity of the airport, he was not able to see any wind indicators due to the low-light conditions at dusk. He contacted a fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport and was advised that the wind was light and variable. As he continued the approach, he noted that the tetrahedron was indicating a right quartering tailwind of an unknown strength. As the airplane touched down, the pilot immediately experienced a right drift which he attributed to a 15 knot right quartering tailwind and attempted to correct by applying right throttle. The airplane responded by drifting left and he retarded the right throttle and added left throttle in an attempt to regain directional control. The airplane veered off the runway surface at an estimated ground speed of about 120 mph and encountered soft sand in the area adjacent to the runway. The pilot was unable to steer and the left wing collided with terrain and incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N101AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101AA-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 3180, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 500 S (S) - Registry model: [Rockwell International 500-S](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-500-s) (registry code 7630410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3180 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use - Operator: American East Airways Corp, doing business as Houston Air - Registered owner: American East Airways Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: P33, Willcox, AZ - Destination: P33, Willcox, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: P33, Cochise County Airport, runway 03, 6,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 26,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 24,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SAD, 34 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140702013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140702013019A), Jul 2, 2014: Rockwell International 500-S, Wilcox, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on runway 3 unaware of a quartering right tail wind estimated at 15 kt. The pilot reported that he had called the Wilcox FBO before landing and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89597. 349 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.