Chandler Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85249
Thursday, March 18, 1993 19:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE INTENDED TO PERFORM SOME NIGHT PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. HE SAID THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY HAD BEEN NORMAL AND THE WINDS AT THE AIRPORT WHEN HE ARRIVED WERE CALM. DURING THE DOWNWIND AND BASE LEGS OF THE FIRST TRAFFIC PATTERN THE PILOT SAID THAT HE OBSERVED 'DUST BEING KICKED UP TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE AIRPORT.' HE REPORTED THAT THE FIRST SIGN OF TURBULENCE BEGAN ON FINAL, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT HE BECAME AWARE OF GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER LANDING AND WHILE TAXIING TO HIS PARKING SPOT, A SUDDEN AND VERY STRONG GUST OF WIND BLEW THE AIRCRAFT OVER ONTO ITS BACK. GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED OBSERVING ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE GENERAL AREA AND THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT A STRONG GUST OF WIND SWEPT OVER THE AIRPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WHILE TAXIING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1915
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CHANDLER
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85249
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHANDLER MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P10
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1220
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 70
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 400
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51306
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3211U
NTSB Number LAX93LA156
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182F
Aircraft Series Identifier 182F
Aircraft Serial Number 18254611
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 25 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES N. FORDEMWALT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 613 W. SUMMIT PLACE
Aircraft Owner City CHANDLER
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85224
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES N. FORDEMWALT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 613 W. SUMMIT PLACE
Operator City CHANDLER
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85224
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code P10
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1910
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code P10
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
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 22
Runway Length 4700
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --