Harquahala Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buckeye, Arizona 85326
Friday, May 6, 1983 20:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD MADE 3 NIGHT LANDINGS AT THE STRIP DURING THE PAST 6 MTHS. THE PROCEDURE THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR LIGHTING THESTRIP WAS TO PLACE A VEHICLE AT THE WEST END WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FACING EAST DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE STRIP. HOWEVER, ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE EAST END OF THE STRIP WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FACING EAST OUT INA FIELD. WHEN APPROACHING FROM THE EAST, THE STRIP IS THE LAST IN A SERIES OF 3 SIMILARLY LOOKING FIELDS. WHEN THE PLT THOUGHT HE WAS AT THE NORMAL DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS, HE REDUCED POWER AND LANDED SHORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BUCKEYE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85326
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HARQUAHALA STRIP
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 1000
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2100 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1132
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1356
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21650
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N315CC
NTSB Number LAX83LA259
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 421B
Aircraft Series Identifier 421B
Aircraft Serial Number 421B 0810
Certified Max Gross Weight 7450
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARQUAHALA VALLEY ORCHARDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 820 EAST VAN BUREN #116
Aircraft Owner City GOODYEAR
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85338
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 GYR
Departure City GOODYEAR
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1945
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --