On December 17, 2003, a Piper PA-11 (registration N5516H) was involved in an aviation accident near Gilbert, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing touchdown in soft terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane came to rest inverted after its main landing gear sunk into soft dirt during a landing attempt in an alfalfa field. The pilot reported no mechanical issues.
Accident Details
The airplane came to rest inverted after attempting to land in a soft dirt field. The pilot was attempting to land in an alfalfa field adjacent to his home. According to the pilot, he had successfully completed landings in the same field prior to the accident. The dirt in the field had recently been lightly disked, making the terrain soft.
Sequence of Events
Upon touchdown, the airplane's main landing gear sunk into the soft terrain. This caused the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane before the accident. The aircraft was performing normally until the landing gear encountered the soft soil.
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