Sedona Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sedona, Arizona 86336
Saturday, October 14, 2000 13:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on short final for landing at an airport situated on a mesa, the airplane got caught in an updraft/downdraft situation and landed hard. The airplane skidded off the runway through brush and came to rest back on the runway after striking a taxiway sign and taxiway and runway lights. During the approach, the pilot attempted to compensate for the winds by making a higher and faster approach than normal. He checked his airspeed on short final and when he looked back outside the airplane was descending. He unsuccessfully attempted to arrest the descent by adding full power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while on short final landing approach. A factor was the unfavorable wind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SEDONA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86336
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SEDONA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEZ
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 4827
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1257 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID FLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 57
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10913
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 15 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 738
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 7:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4826Q
NTSB Number LAX01LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7535052
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 22 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 6545
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR DESERT PACIFIC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1889 MCKINLEY AVE.
Aircraft Owner City LA VERNE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91750
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 POC
Departure City LA VERNE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SEZ
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 5132
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --