Rockwell International 500 S accident near Willcox, Arizona, July 3, 2014
On July 3, 2014 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1974 Rockwell International 500 S, registered N101AA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Willcox, Arizona (Cochise County Airport). It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 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 failure to compensate for tailwind conditions and maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2014 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Willcox, Arizona · Cochise County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International 500 S S, built 1974 · all 500 Ss on the register
- Registration
- N101AA · no longer on the register · serial 3180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being operated as an air-attack coordinator for aerial, forest firefighting activity. The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the vicinity of the destination airport, he was not able to see any wind indicators due to the low-light conditions at dusk. He contacted a fixed-base operator at the airport and was advised that the wind was light and variable, and, as he continued the approach, he noted that the tetrahedron was indicating a right quartering tailwind of "unknown strength." Following touchdown, the airplane immediately drifted right, which the pilot attributed to a 15-knot right quartering tailwind. Despite his attempts to manipulate the throttle to regain directional control, the airplane veered off the runway surface at an estimated ground speed of about 120 mph. The airplane encountered soft sand, and the pilot was subsequently unable to steer the airplane, which resulted in the left wing colliding with terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American East Airways CORP
The flight
- Departed from: P33 Willcox AZ
- Destination: P33 Willcox AZ
- Runway 03, 6,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from SAD, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N101AA 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.