Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Sunday, January 9, 2011 14:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered right concurrent with him placing the propeller into reverse. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway, but it exited the right side of the paved surface. During the runway excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering assembly revealed no anomalies; the nose landing gear steering travel and rake angle were within manufacturer’s prescribed limits. Examination of the 8-ply nose landing gear tire revealed that the tire was underinflated at 43 psi, whereas the manufacturer’s recommended pressure is 70 psi. According to a Customer Information Letter that addressed nose landing gear steering concerns, the manufacturer stated that a nosewheel tire inflated to 70 psi allowed better steering control forces and warned that an underinflated tire could increase forces associated with steering. The pilot reported that he did not check the tire inflation pressure during the preflight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was low nosewheel tire pressure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/9/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Phoenix
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85034
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332603N
Event Location Longitude 1120041W
Event Location Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KPHX
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 1135
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1351 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KPHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1135
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KPHX 092051Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW100 SCT220 OVC250 16/
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29783
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC LAX
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 5 2012 8:03PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5365D
NTSB Number WPR11FA093
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA46-500TP
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4697161
Certified Max Gross Weight 5092
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 5
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 9 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1320
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name FIESTA FOODS OF OREGON INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1875 N 1ST ST
Aircraft Owner City HERMISTON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97838-1110
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Craig S. Gaylord
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pasco
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99301
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code KRNO
Departure City Reno
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KPHX
Destination City Phoenix
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 5 2012 7:56PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07R
Runway Length 7800
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --