Cessna 340A accident near Camp Verde, Arizona, October 23, 2010
On October 23, 2010 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N630PL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Camp Verde, Arizona (Montezuma 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 misjudged approach and failure to attain the correct touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2010 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Camp Verde, Arizona · Montezuma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N630PL · registry record · serial 340A1224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he noted that the wind was calm as he made his traffic-pattern approach to the runway. He turned onto base leg early, which resulted in the airplane being higher than normal on the final approach. He reduced the engine power and lowered the nose in an attempt to land with enough runway surface remaining. The pilot reported that although the airplane floated much further than he expected during landing, he believed that he could still brake to a stop safely. The airplane subsequently overran the runway's end and came to rest on an embankment with collapsed landing gear and a bent wing. The pilot reported that he experienced no mechanical malfunctions with his airplane.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,818 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 9, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2010; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,390 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 19AZ Camp Verde AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.