Event LAX96LA171

Factual narrative

On April 15, 1996, at 1915 hours mountain standard time, a homebuilt experimental William A. Bryan, Jr., Glasair 3SH-3R, N7TR, owned and operated by the pilot, made a hard landing and nosed over at the Sedona airport, Sedona, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Wickenberg, Arizona, at 1850. The president of the Sedona Airport Administration reported that, as a result of the accident, the runway and adjoining property was examined. Based upon the examination, tire track and impact evidence indicated that the accident airplane appeared to have initially touched down with its left main landing gear tire off the left side of the runway pavement. The initial touchdown occurred approximately 300 feet upwind from the threshold of runway 03. Thereafter, the airplane appeared to have bounced into the air. It next contacted the ground with all three wheels about 300 feet upwind. The airplane then collided with two of the left side runway lights and finally came to rest in the median area between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The airplane was found in an upside-down attitude, with a collapsed nose gear, about 20 feet beyond the left side of the runway and 1,500 feet from the threshold. At dusk, the pilot made a hard landing, bounced, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. An airport official reported that an examination of the runway impact and tire track evidence indicated the airplane initially touched down with its left main landing gear tire off the left side of the runway surface. Thereafter, the airplane collided with two left side runway lights. The airplane came to rest 20 feet beyond the left side of the runway and 1,500 feet from the threshold. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12