Williams Afb Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85249
Sunday, December 10, 2006 9:52 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that since taking delivery of the airplane, he had been having difficulty flying in a level attitude without applying left stick and left rudder. He contacted the factory and was advised as to what adjustments needed to be made to correct the airplane's out-of-trim condition. According to the manufacturer, those adjustments needed to be completed by an A&P certificated mechanic. During an interview with a Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that he was not an A & P certificated mechanic, but he made the adjustments to the trim himself. On the day of the accident, after takeoff, the airplane banked and yawed to the right. When the pilot input left stick and left rudder to correct to a level flight attitude, there was no response from the airplane. The airplane continued to make a complete right-hand circle before the pilot was able to make an off airport landing where it struck a berm. Two separate examinations of the wreckage were conducted and investigators found that the airplane had been trimmed to fly to the left. No other mechanical abnormalities were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 952
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Chandler
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85249
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331528N
Event Location Longitude 1114931W
Event Location Airport WILLIAMS AFB
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CHD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.6
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1243
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 947 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID CHD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1247
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23904
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 10 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2008 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45YB
NTSB Number LAX07LA055
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Higher Class Aviation
Aircraft Model Super Hornet
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 060
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 18
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert W. Little
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sun Lakes
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85248
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 CHD
Departure City Chandler
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
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 - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 9 2008 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22R
Runway Length 4401
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --