Red Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pine, Arizona 85544
Thursday, March 10, 2011 16:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during takeoff to the northeast on the dirt airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to drift to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, and struck vegetation. The airplane continued to veer to the left as the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest on its right side. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He estimated that the wind at the time of the accident was from the west at 5 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/2011
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Pine
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85544
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340936N
Event Location Longitude 1114337W
Event Location Airport Red Creek
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NA
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 77
Weather Observation Facility ID KPAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 5157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28295
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 14 2011 6:58PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9330C
NTSB Number WPR11CA162
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31728
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD I APFELBAUM
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SALT LAKE CITY
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84103-4248
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name RONALD I APFELBAUM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SALT LAKE CITY
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 84103-4248
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code NA
Departure City Pine
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KDVT
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 14 2011 6:59PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 06
Runway Length 1400
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --