Ligurta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ligurta, Arizona 85347
Friday, July 22, 1994 1:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER CONDUCTING A RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT OVER THE FIELD HE WAS GOING TO SPRAY, THE PILOT THEN OVERFLEW THE DIRT AIRSTRIP TO CHECK FOR OBSTACLES AND LANDED. DURING ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WHEEL ENTERED A BADGER HOLE AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE SUITABILITY OF THE LANDING AREA PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THE DARK NIGHT AND THE BADGER HOLE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City LIGURTA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85347
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LIGURTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 250
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1427
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1405
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3626D
NTSB Number LAX94LA294
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 717B
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 25 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4400
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PIERCE AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8603 S. HIGHWAY 85/P.O.B. 607
Aircraft Owner City BUCKEYE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85326
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAME AS REGISTERED OWNER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address SAME AS REGISTERED OWNER
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code ZFEG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 44A
Departure City ROLLE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 30
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --