Wickenberg Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wickenberg, Arizona 85358
Saturday, August 12, 1995 7:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE LAST TAKEOFF AN ENGINE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND, WHILE THE BACKFIRING CONTINUE, AND DISAPPEARED FROM THE WITNESS' VIEW. ANOTHER PILOT, PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE LYING NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE END. EXAMINATION OF BOTH ENGINES DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY INTERNAL PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE RIGHT ENGINE MAGNETOS TIMING EXCEEDED THE MANUFACTURERS' SERVICE LIMITS. ACCORDING TO AN ACCESSORY REPAIR TECHNICIAN, NEITHER MAGNETO IS CONSIDERED AIRWORTHY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper emergency procedures. The pilot's diverted attention, and the magnetos clearance and timing were factors in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WICKENBERG
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85358
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WICKENBERG MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E25
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 2386
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Day
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 345
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1124
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8113Y
NTSB Number LAX95LA290
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-30-B
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-30-B
Aircraft Serial Number 30-1222
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 18 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3805
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT L. BAX
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3505 E. MCDOWELL RD.
Aircraft Owner City MESA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85213
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FFZ
Departure City MESA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code E25
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 5
Runway Length 5050
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --