Vickers Supermaine Ltd accident near Marana, Arizona, July 4, 2017
On July 4, 2017 at about 4:05 pm local time, a 1943 Vickers Supermaine Ltd, registered N5TF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Marana, Arizona (Marana Regional 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane 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
- July 4, 2017 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Marana Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vickers Supermaine Ltd Spitfire V, built 1943
- Registration
- N5TF · registry record · serial JG891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that, after making a normal landing and slowing the airplane during the rollout, the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot's right rudder input was not effective at countering the left drift due to the airplane's slow speed, so the pilot applied the right brake. The right brake application caused the airplane's nose to swing to the right, which the pilot then countered by applying left rudder and brake. However, the left rudder input was ineffective, and the left brake provided no stopping action, so the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane's subsequent impact with soft dirt resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear and substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident survey of the runway revealed a 200-ft-long skid mark that was made by the left main landing gear tire. A postaccident examination revealed no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane's brake system that would have resulted in the loss of directional control.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- 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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 16,239 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,338.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 30, 2017; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,785 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls Royce Merlin 35 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LRU Las Cruces NM at 2:50 pm
- Destination: AVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,901 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from AVQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 9, 2018. 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 | Records of FAA Inspector's Examination Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array of Accident Airplane | PDF, 4 pages | 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.