Piper PA-34-220T accident near Sedona, Arizona, March 26, 2010
On March 26, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N110RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona 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 pilot's improper landing flare in tailwind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N110RV · registry record · serial 34-8133196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In preparation for a flight home, the pilot started his airplane's left engine. However, the right engine would not start and the battery became depleted. The pilot acquired assistance from a local fixed base operator who supplied current from an external battery, and the right engine started. The pilot proceeded to check all of the airplane's instruments and noted no anomalies. Seconds after takeoff on runway 21, when the pilot attempted to raise the landing gear, all electrical power was lost. The pilot reversed course and immediately landed on runway 03 with a 15- to 24-knot left quartering tailwind. The pilot misjudged the landing flare, the airplane touched down hard, and the right engine's propeller and wing impacted the runway and were damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 13, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2009; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEZ Sedona AZ at 10:29 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from SEZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.