Piper PA31 accident near Page, Arizona, June 16, 2018
On June 16, 2018 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1975 Piper PA31, registered N621PG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Page, Arizona (Page Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the airplane’s nose wheel steering/centering mechanism, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2018 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 350, built 1975 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- N621PG · no longer on the register · serial 31-7652049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered right and exited the runway, where the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear steering/centering mechanism was fractured, which resulted in the improper alignment of the nose landing gear when it was extended, and a subsequent loss of directional control. Three skid marks were visible from the runway centerline to where the airplane came to rest. The center skid mark was consistent with the nose landing gear and was darker and was about 2-3 times the width of the marks from the main tires; consistent with the nose landing gear's misalignment during the landing roll.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycomng TIO-540 Serie (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540 Serie (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dakota Territory Tours Inc
The flight
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Runway 15, 5,950 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PGA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 2, 2021. 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 | Record of Conversations | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Email | 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.