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Casualties unknown

Airplane Collides with Car Crossing Runway (N6106V)

Quartzsite, AZ, US

On February 1, 2003, a Beech S-35 (registration N6106V) was involved in an aviation accident near Quartzsite, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The driver of the vehicle did not stop prior to crossing the airstrip as directed by airstrip signage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane collided with a car that crossed the runway after landing on a dirt strip. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the left main gear struck the car and sheared off, causing substantial damage.

Incident Description

The accident occurred when an airplane, after touching down on a dirt strip, collided with a car that pulled out to cross the runway. The pilot initiated a go-around maneuver, but the left main landing gear struck the car and sheared off during the attempted abort. Following the impact, the airplane skidded down the runway and veered off to the left, resulting in substantial damage to both the wing and fuselage.

Damage

The left main gear was completely separated from the aircraft due to the collision. The subsequent skid and veer-off caused significant structural damage to the wing and fuselage, rendering the airplane substantially damaged.

Signage

The airstrip was equipped with "stop" and "landing area" signs to guide ground traffic. Despite these markings, the car failed to stop before crossing the airstrip, leading to the collision.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Feb 2003 Beech S-35 accident near Quartzsite, AZ?

An airplane collided with a car that crossed the runway after landing on a dirt strip. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the left main gear struck the car and sheared off, causing substantial damage.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Feb 2003 involved a Beech S-35, registration N6106V, at Quartzsite, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The driver of the vehicle did not stop prior to crossing the airstrip as directed by airstrip signage.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030207X00183. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.