Aircraft Nos Over After Veering Off Runway During Landing Rollout

Casualties unknown • Maricopa, AZ, US

The pilot executed a normal landing on a narrow runway but lost directional control during rollout, veering right and overcorrecting left before the aircraft nosed over in adjacent soft ground.

What happened

The airplane was conducting a routine landing operation when it departed the paved surface during the rollout phase. The pilot reported making a standard three-point touchdown on a runway measuring 100 feet in width and 5,300 feet in length. Environmental conditions at the time included light winds that were variable in direction.

Immediately after contact with the runway surface, the aircraft began to drift toward the right side of the pavement. The pilot applied corrective control inputs to steer the airplane back toward the centerline. However, this correction was excessive, causing the aircraft to swing sharply to the left. Unable to regain control within the confines of the runway, the airplane crossed the edge and entered an adjacent plowed field characterized by soft soil.

Upon encountering the uneven and yielding terrain of the field, the nose gear collapsed, resulting in the aircraft nosing over. The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining directional control on narrower runways, particularly when wind conditions are variable and ground handling requires precise input.

Findings

Contributing factors to the accident included the pilot's overcorrection during the landing rollout and the presence of soft soil off the runway edge. The narrow width of the runway provided limited margin for error during the critical phase of taxiing after touchdown.

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing rollout due to overcorrection, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over upon entering soft ground.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-01-29 Piper PA-18-150 accident near Maricopa, AZ?

The pilot executed a normal landing on a narrow runway but lost directional control during rollout, veering right and overcorrecting left before the aircraft nosed over in adjacent soft ground.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-01-29 involved a Piper PA-18-150, registration N62712, at Maricopa, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing rollout due to overcorrection, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over upon entering soft ground.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20060310X00283. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…