# NTSB WPR18LA184: Piper PA31, N621PG, Page, AZ, June 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2018, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.926109, -111.448333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9261&lon=-111.4483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97639/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97639 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA184 ## Probable cause The failure of the airplane’s nose wheel steering/centering mechanism, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered right and exited the runway, where the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear steering/centering mechanism was fractured, which resulted in the improper alignment of the nose landing gear when it was extended, and a subsequent loss of directional control. Three skid marks were visible from the runway centerline to where the airplane came to rest. The center skid mark was consistent with the nose landing gear and was darker and was about 2-3 times the width of the marks from the main tires; consistent with the nose landing gear's misalignment during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2018, about 1300 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N621PG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Page, Arizona. The two commercial pilots were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right and he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the nose steering/centering mechanism had fractured and separated from the nose wheel assembly, resulting in a misalignment when the gear was extended. According to the airport manager, no foreign object debris was located on the runway or grassy area off the right side of the runway where the airplane came to rest after the landing. A review of accident site pictures revealed that three skid marks were visible from the runway centerline to where the airplane came to rest. The center skid mark, corresponding to the nose landing gear, was darker and about 2 to 3 times wider than the outside skid marks, which corresponded to the main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N621PG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N621PG-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 31-7652049, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA31 (350) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7652049 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 Series reciprocating; Lycomng TIO-540 Series reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dakota Territory Tours Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: PGA, Page, AZ - Airport: PGA, Page Muni, runway 15, 5,950 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: PGA ## 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 20180616015529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180616015529A), Jun 16, 2018: Piper PA-31-350, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. Due enroute weather on 06/16/2018 the pilot decided to make a fuel stop in Page AZ. According to the pilot the wind was calm and variable 3 or 4 knots. He… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97639. 247 KB in all. - Record of conversations (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11942293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20WPR18LA184%20Final-Rel.pdf - Record of email (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11942362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20WPR18LA184-Rel.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.