Aeronca CHIEF 65-CA accident near Phoenix, Arizona, June 29, 1998
On June 29, 1998 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Aeronca CHIEF 65-CA, registered N34482, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1998 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca CHIEF 65-CA CHIEF 65-C
- Registration
- N34482 · no longer on the register · serial C14941
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a full-stall landing and, during the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the left. He stated that he applied aileron to keep the aircraft level, but the airplane continued to pull to the left. He decided to roll off the runway in order to avoid having the right wing contact the ground. The aircraft struck the visual approach slope indicator lights. The pilot reported that he had not noted any crosswind component noticed on the final approach. He further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.
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
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,889 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1998; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from DVT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N34482 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.