Dirt Road Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coolidge, Arizona 85228
Thursday, April 30, 1992 11:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON A DIRT ROAD NEAR A FARM MACHINERY CONCERN. AFTER CONDUCTING HIS BUSINESS, THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF EASTBOUND ON THE DIRT ROAD, WHICH HAD ABOUT 2,000 FT OF USABLE DISTANCE. ONCE AIRBORNE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES AT THE END OF THE ROAD. THE WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT BEGIN A LEFT TURN TO AVOID THE POWER LINES AND THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CART WHEELED TO A STOP IN AN ADJACENT COTTON FIELD. THE WITNESSES SAID THAT 'HEAVY' AND 'GUSTING' WINDS FROM VARIABLE DIRECTIONS WERE PRESENT DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF RECORD FOR THE PILOT WAS A SECOND CLASS MEDICAL ISSUED APRIL 23, 1979.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S USE OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City COOLIDGE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85228
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DIRT ROAD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1600
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 4000
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) 285
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46376
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1360C
NTSB Number LAX92LA193
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-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18A
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2532
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILLIP E. BARNES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 769
Aircraft Owner City QUEEN CREEK
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85242
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PHILLIP E. BARNES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 769
Operator City QUEEN CREEK
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85242
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code P10
Destination City CHANDLER
Destination State AZ
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 9
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --