Gila Farms Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85249
Saturday, March 1, 2003 11:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with obstacles during an aborted takeoff from a private dirt strip that was 2,500 feet long. During the instructional flight, the instructor and student were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the third touch-and-go, the instructor felt that they did not have enough power to clear trees at the end of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane went off the end of the runway and into heavy brush and small trees. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine and airframe, and noted no mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the CFI's inadequate supervision and delayed decision to abort the takeoff resulted in the runway overrun.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/1/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Chandler
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85249
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331600N
Event Location Longitude 1114800W
Event Location Airport Gila Farms
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 1250
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1047 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID CHD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1243
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) 651
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16552
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 1 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1105
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62712
NTSB Number LAX03LA103
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7809105
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 21 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 1858
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chandler Air Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chandler
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85249
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KCHD
Departure City Chandler
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2004 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --