Piper PA 28R-200 accident near Sedona, Arizona, January 4, 2015
On January 4, 2015 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA 28R-200, registered N3811M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2015 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-200, built 1969 · all PA 28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N3811M · registry record · serial 28R-35200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed his local airport for a personal cross-country flight. The runway at the landing airport was oriented north/south. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of his arrival was clear with calm wind, and that under those conditions aircraft generally land and takeoff to the north since the runway slopes upward in that direction. However, that day, aircraft in the traffic pattern were landing and taking off to the south. The pilot made a decision to follow the direction of prevailing traffic, flying and landing to the south. After landing, he applied the brakes to compensate for the sloped terrain. At the same time, the left wheel rolled over unidentified debris on the runway, which caused the pilot to lose directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 345.7 hours in all; 66.5 in this make and model; 7.3 in the last 90 days; 7.3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 28, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,058.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2014
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: D I V A 1336 LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 4:45 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from SEZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement Given to FAA Inspector | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - Right Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 - Left Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 - Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 5 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 6 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 7 - Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.