Amateur-built 2000 accident near Sedona, Arizona, July 27, 2011
On July 27, 2011, a amateur-built 2000, registered N671T, 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, 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
- July 27, 2011
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 2000
- Registration
- N671T · registry record · serial 990010M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane landed just past the numbers, bounced once, then landed on the right main landing gear, which collapsed. The left main and nose landing gears subsequently collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway. According to a witness, the airplane approached the runway on short final at a high approach speed and with very little flare. The airplane made runway contact with first the right main landing gear, which collapsed, then the airplane yawed to the right, which resulted in the collapse of the left main and nose landing gear. A postaccident examination of the landing gear revealed no indication of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Skid marks found on the runway indicate that it is likely that the landing gear collapsed as a result of a hard landing.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- 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 › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 568 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 2010; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors Inc. IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:57 pm from FLG, 17 miles away
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.