By Jim Timm 
May 2015
The following are the preliminary NTSB reports of the aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-April thru late May. We hope the following accident information can be used to develop safety programs and briefings that will help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and hopefully will take the action needed to prevent similar accidents from happening to them.
From a flight safety standpoint, this reporting period has not been good. Fortunately, however, there have not been any general aviation fatal accidents reported in Arizona by the NTSB so far this year. There were six general aviation accidents reported during this past reporting period, five of them occurring in March and one in April. The April report failed to contain detailed accident information from the NTSB and therefore is suspected to be minor in nature.
On March 11 there was an accident reported by the NTSB that involved a flight of two U.S. civilian owned foreign military jet trainers being flown by U.S. civilians that were operating under contract for the USAF flying out of Yuma Marine Air Corps Station when one of them struck a truck on takeoff, killing the Marine Lance Corporal occupant. In spite of being investigated by the NTSB, because of the military intent, location, and type of operation, this incident will not be included in this reporting process.
Since January, there have been four accident reports that failed to provide detailed accident information at the time. In the past reporting period, detailed reports have been issued and are appended to the end of this month’s summary.
Based on information available when this summary was prepared, the reported accidents are as follows:
Accident Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015
Report Dated (4/3/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Peoria
Aircraft Type: ULTRAMAGIC SA N210 (Balloon)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 10 Uninjured
HARD LANDING
About 0820 MST on March 14, an Ultramagic SA N210 balloon experienced a hard landing during a visual approach and landing in an open field near Peoria. The pilot and nine out of the ten passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained two broken ankles during the landing sequence. The balloon sustained minor damage to the gondola scruff leather coverings. According to the pilot, halfway through the flight, it was determined that winds aloft were faster than anticipated. As the pilot maneuvered the balloon for a landing in an open field, a hard landing occurred.
Accident Date: Saturday, March 21, 2015
Report Dated (3/30/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: McCurry F 1 Rocket (Experimental)
Injuries: 2 Serious
LOSS OF POWER ON APPROACH TO LANDING
On March 21, about 1115 MST, a McCurry F-1 Rocket sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on final approach to the Sedona Airport (SEZ). The private pilot, who was seated in the front seat, and the airline transport rated pilot, who was seated in the rear seat, were seriously injured. The cross-country flight originated from Prescott, Arizona, about 20 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The front seat pilot reported that while the flight was inbound to SEZ, the engine began running rough, and through adjusting the mixture, it returned to running normal. The pilot stated that after switching to the right fuel tank, he proceeded to enter the airport traffic pattern on a right base for runway 3. As he turned onto about a 3-mile final for the runway, the airplane descended below his intended flight path and he added power, however, noticed that the engine was not responding. The rear seat pilot took control of the airplane while the front seat pilot continued to troubleshoot the loss of engine power by leaning and enriching the mixture along with switching fuel tanks. The front seat pilot stated that despite all of his attempts, no changes in engine power were noted. The rear seat pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby road, and during the landing roll, struck desert vegetation and came to rest upright about 1 mile southwest of the airport.
Accident Date: Saturday, March 21, 2015
Report Dated (3/30/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Green Valley
Aircraft Type: Vans RV6A
Injuries: 2 Minor
LOSS OF POWER ON TAKEOFF
On March 21, about 0920 MST, a Vans RV6A was substantially damaged during forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from the Ruby Star Airpark (14AZ), Green Valley. The private pilot and his pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Tucson. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight.
The pilot reported that after takeoff from runway 7, at an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and he initiated a left turn toward the airport. Subsequently the airplane impacted terrain about 30 feet from the runway and nosed over.
Accident Date: Sunday, March 22, 2015
Report Dated (4/1/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Flagstaff
Aircraft Type: Beech B23
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
On March 22, about 1150 MST, a Beech B23 veered off of runway 21 during the landing rollout at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG). The private pilot and passenger were not injured during the local area personal flight. The airplane, however, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed FLG about 1050.
According to the pilot, during the landing rollout, as the airplane began to veer to the left of the runway, he applied right rudder and aileron. However, the airplane continued to veer to the left, exited the runway, and struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The pilot believed that there may have been a problem with the rudder control bungees or springs.
Accident Date: Monday, March 30, 2015
Report Dated (4/1/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Beech H35
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF
On March 30, about 1130 MST, a Beech H35 was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Tucson International Airport. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Tucson International Airport, Tucson, about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff, the airplane was not developing adequate power. At about 40 feet above ground level, the airplane stopped climbing, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane impacted terrain and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall.
Accident Date: Saturday, April 4, 2015
Location: Surprise
Aircraft Type: Jabiru - SP
NO NTSB INFORMATION AVAILABLE
THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DEVOID OF NTSB ACCIDENT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, IN THIS MAY REPORTING PERIOD, THE ACCIDENT DETAILS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE.
Accident Date: Sunday, January 4, 2015
Report Dated (4/7/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Piper PA28R-200
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The pilot departed his local airport for a personal cross-country flight. The runway at the landing airport was oriented north/south. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of his arrival was clear with calm wind, and that under those conditions aircraft generally land and takeoff to the north since the runway slopes upward in that direction. However, that day, aircraft in the traffic pattern were landing and taking off to the south. The pilot made a decision to follow the direction of prevailing traffic, flying and landing to the south. After landing, he applied the brakes to compensate for the sloped terrain. At the same time, the left wheel rolled over unidentified debris on the runway, which caused the pilot to lose directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Accident Date: Sunday, January 18, 2015
Report Dated (4/9/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Flagstaff
Aircraft Type: Beech A36TC
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE DURING LANDING
On January 18 about 1235 MST, a Beech A36TC experienced a nose gear collapse during landing at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The cross-country personal flight departed Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California, at 0934 Pacific standard time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that the airplane was traveling at 90 knots as they passed over the runway threshold, and that they touched down just past the displaced threshold. The airplane then bounced, and in response the pilot applied back pressure to the elevator control in an effort to deplete the excess energy. They touched down a second time on the main landing gear, and he held the airplane in a nose high attitude. The pilot surmised that at this point the nose landing gear scissor link failed, causing the nose wheel to over extend and release from the assembly. As the airspeed decreased, the airplane came to rest on its nose.
Accident Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Report Dated (4/9/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Phoenix (DVT)
Aircraft Type: Piper PA28R-201
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE ON LANDING
According to both the certified flight instructor (CFI) and the pilot undergoing instruction (PUI), during the landing rollout, the PUI inadvertently retracted the landing gear. The landing gear handle was immediately selected to down; however, they felt the airplane sink to the left. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, stabilator, and empennage. Both pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Accident Date: Saturday, March 7, 2015
Report Dated (4/9/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: San Manuel
Aircraft Type: Sky Ranger II
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
HARD LANDING, LOSS OF CONTROL
The pilot was performing a no flap landing. About 5 feet over the runway, the pilot attempted to center the airplane over the center line but input too much rudder, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and then departed the runway to the left. The nose gear and left main landing gear separated from the fuselage; subsequently the left and right fuselage stringers sustained substantial damage.