Marble Canyon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marble Canyon, Arizona 86036
Friday, March 14, 2008 10:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after overflying the airport, he decided to land on runway 21. He extended the wing flaps to the 25-degree position during the approach to landing. The pilot observed that the wind sock was about halfway extended, and he estimated that the wind was from 270 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots. During the landing flare, the crosswind suddenly decreased in intensity, and the airplane impacted hard onto the runway's surface. Thereafter, the airplane veered right and exited the runway. Inspection of the airframe revealed that the nosewheel and the left main landing gear separated from the airframe, the windshield cracked, and the vertical stabilizer was bent. The pilot did not indicate that he had experienced any mechanical malfunction or abnormality with his airplane prior to the mishap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the flare. Contributing to the accident were wind gusts and a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Marble Canyon
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86036
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364839N
Event Location Longitude 1113840W
Event Location Airport Marble Canyon
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L41
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3603
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 Docket Number (internal use) 23394
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9374S
NTSB Number LAX08CA075
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model C23
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number M-1672
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Arizona Thunderbolts, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Russell L. Gardner
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Maricopa
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DVT
Departure City Deer Valley
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code L41
Destination City Marble Canyon
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 1 2008 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 3715
Runway Width 35
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --