Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE SUITABILITY OF THE LANDING AREA PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THE DARK NIGHT AND THE BADGER HOLE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 22, 1994, at 0100 hours mountain standard time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3626D, nosed over during the landing roll on a privately owned airstrip near Ligurta, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules local aerial application reconnaissance flight. The airplane, owned and operated by Pierce Aviation, Buckeye, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Rolle Airport, Rolle, Arizona, at 0030 hours.
The pilot reported in the aircraft accident report that after departing Rolle Airport he conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight over the field he was going to spray. He then overflew the privately owned dirt airstrip to check for obstacles and landed. During the landing roll-out, the left main wheel entered a badger hole and the airplane nosed over.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX94LA294