Amateur-built 235 accident near Page, Arizona, July 26, 2003
On July 26, 2003 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 235, registered N235WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Page, Arizona (Page Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and his improper recovery from a bounced landing. Inadvertent entry into a porpoise pilot-induced oscillation, and high density altitude were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2003 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 235
- Registration
- N235WC · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane porpoised during landing, and the nose landing gear collapsed. During final approach, the airplane's ground speed increased and a higher than normal sink rate developed. The pilot was unable to slow the descent in time to prevent a hard landing. After a series of bounces, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded down the runway. The fuel lines broke and a fire erupted. The estimated density altitude was 7,700 feet msl.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 715 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 584 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 10-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N235WC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.