Event LAX93LA236

Factual narrative

On May 29, 1993, about 1155 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA- 34-200, N5388T, crashed during landing at Sedona, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight to Sedona when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Air Desert Pacific Corp., La Verne, California, received substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and 5 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from La Verne, California, at 0922 hours. The pilot reported that upon arrival in the Sedona area, he received a landing advisory on the airport unicom radio frequency. The wind conditions were reported as 180 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. He indicated that after touch down on runway 21, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right. The airplane departed the runway, crossed a parallel taxiway and then struck a ditch. The airplane received damage to the left main landing gear, left wing, and fuselage. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. The most recent third class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on June 8, 1992, and contained the limitation that correcting lenses be worn while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate. According to the pilot/operator report submitted by the pilot, his total aeronautical experience consists of about 279 hours, of which 28 hours were accrued in the accident airplane. According to information provided by the pilot, a multiengine rating was issued to the pilot on April 13, 1993. In the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident, the report lists a total of 22 and 4 hours respectively flown. The Sedona airport is situated on a 500 foot mesa that rises above the surrounding terrain. It is equipped with a single hard surfaced runway on a 030/210 degree magnetic orientation. Runway 21 is 5,131 feet long by 75 feet wide. The published altitude of the airport is 4,827 feet mean sea level. According to airport/facility directory, turbulence may be experienced in the vicinity of the airport. THE PILOT WAS LANDING AT AN AIRPORT SITUATED ON A HIGH MESA. THE AIRPORT DIRECTORY NOTES THAT TURBULENCE MAY BE EXPEREINCED NEAR THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED 28 HOURS OF EXPEREINCE IN THE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12