Apollo Aircraft INC MONSOON accident near Oro Valley, Arizona, April 17, 2012
On April 17, 2012 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Apollo Aircraft INC MONSOON (weight-shift aircraft), registered N125AP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Oro Valley, Arizona (La Cholla Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to lower the nose landing gear in time to prevent it from slamming onto the runway and collapsing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2012 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Oro Valley, Arizona · La Cholla Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Apollo Aircraft INC MONSOON · all MONSOONs on the register
- Registration
- N125AP · registry record · serial 00004
- 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 during the landing he set the rear two wheels down and tried to hold the nose gear up longer than he previously had. As the trike began to slow, the nose gear slammed onto the runway and collapsed. After the aircraft slid to a stop in the middle of the runway, it tipped over onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 78 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2012; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 993 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57AZ Oro Valley AZ at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 57AZ Oro Valley AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 4,500 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.