Rockwell 500 S N101AA

Summary

On 3 July 2014 at about 02:30 local time, a Rockwell 500 S registered N101AA, operated by American East Airways Corp, was involved in an accident near Willcox, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2014 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Willcox, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Cochise County Airport (P33)

Coordinates

32.2456, -109.8947

Aircraft

Rockwell 500 S

Registration

N101AA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

2

Operator

American East Airways Corp

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willcox → Willcox

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR14TA278

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to compensate for tailwind conditions and maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was being operated as an air-attack coordinator for aerial, forest firefighting activity. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the vicinity of the destination airport, he was not able to see any wind indicators due to the low-light conditions at dusk. He contacted a fixed-base operator at the airport and was advised that the wind was light and variable, and, as he continued the approach, he noted that the tetrahedron was indicating a right quartering tailwind of "unknown strength." Following touchdown, the airplane immediately drifted right, which the pilot attributed to a 15-knot right quartering tailwind. Despite his attempts to manipulate the throttle to regain directional control, the airplane veered off the runway surface at an estimated ground speed of about 120 mph. The airplane encountered soft sand, and the pilot was subsequently unable to steer the airplane, which resulted in the left wing colliding with terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.