Yuma International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yuma, Arizona 85364
Saturday, July 2, 2005 11:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with an airport perimeter fence short of the runway during landing and nosed over. While on final approach with the flaps fully extended and the throttle at 1,700 rpm, the airplane began descending rapidly. The pilot retracted the flaps 10 degrees and applied full power. The airplane continued to descend until it struck the airport perimeter fence and nosed over. The pilot reported that this was his first flight with three passengers on board the airplane. Weight and balance calculations showed that upon takeoff, the airplane exceeded its forward center of gravity limit by 1 inch and the gross weight was 2,347.42 pounds. During landing, the calculated center of gravity was near its forward limit, but 0.3 inches within the weight and balance envelope. The gross weight during landing was 2,257.42 pounds. The maximum gross weight for the airplane was 2,400 pounds.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudged distance and altitude, which resulted in an undershoot and collision with a airport boundary fence short of the runway. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity flying the airplane at a high gross weight with a center of gravity near the forward limit, which would have affected the elevator control forces and the amount of nose up elevator available.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Yuma
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85364
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323923N
Event Location Longitude 1143621W
Event Location Airport Yuma International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID YUM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 216
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID YUM
Elevation of weather observation facility 216
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 38
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.79
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19561
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2006 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-SDL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9254J
NTSB Number LAX05LA223
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-3329
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Nov 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 207.4
Airframe Hours 3333.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Yuma Flying Club
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1472 W MIA LN
Aircraft Owner City Yuma
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85365
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code YUM
Departure City Yuma
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 YUM
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 27 2006 5:42PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 6146
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --