Private Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. David, Arizona 85630
Thursday, June 3, 1999 8:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A 20-degree left crosswind at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots existed for the approach to the short gravel airstrip. The pilot indicated that the approach was normal and that he carried an extra 5 knots of airspeed to compensate for the gusty wind condition that existed. At the approach end of the runway he reduced power and pitched the nose up for landing. He stated that the airplane experienced a greater than normal sink rate, which he tried to arrest with additional pitch control. The sink rate continued and then he added power; however, the airplane touched down short of the runway's approach end. The runway sits on a 3-foot rise, and when the airplane landed the nose wheel struck this rise and was sheared off. The nose wheel strut then dug into the gravel runway and the airplane nosed over. The airframe and powerplant were examined with no discrepancies noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate reference approach airspeed for the existing gusty wind conditions, and, his improper (uncoordinated) use of the pitch and power controls to arrest the resulting high sink rate.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ST. DAVID
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85630
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE AIRFIELD
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 3700
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID TUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2641
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1679
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1139
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2001 5:14PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N234TT
NTSB Number LAX99LA206
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 182Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 182Q
Aircraft Serial Number 18265820
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Jul 16 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 377
Airframe Hours 4222
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCHNEIDER GADBERY SHAY & PARTN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8681 E. VIA DE NEGOCIO
Aircraft Owner City SCOTTSDALE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85258
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SDL
Departure City SCOTTSDALE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2001 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 1400
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --