Falcon Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mesa, Arizona 85215
Friday, June 29, 2001 12:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During takeoff the airplane lost directional control, landed on the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, crossed back over the runway, and came to rest on the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that a wind disturbance turned him to the left of the runway and made it hard to control the airplane. He stated the winds were reported as 40 degrees off to the right of the runway heading at 11 knots and there were no gusts. The closest weather reporting station was Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (PHX) about 17 statute miles east of Mesa airport, and at 1156, was reporting the winds to be 250 at 13 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of the rudder control to correct for torque and P-factor effects, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground loop/swerve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Mesa
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85215
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 332737N
Event Location Longitude 1114342W
Event Location Airport Falcon Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFZ
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 1394
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KFFZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12356
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2002 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-SDL

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7336Q
NTSB Number LAX01LA224
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18260976
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 Aug 16 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 118
Airframe Hours 2792
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Structures, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 826
Aircraft Owner City Gilbert
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85299
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Yost, Clinton C.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Gilbert
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85299
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FFZ
Departure City Mesa
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City --
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 16 2002 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22R
Runway Length 3801
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --