Piper PA-24-180 accident near Nogales, AZ
On April 17, 1994, a Piper PA-24-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Nogales, AZ. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 17, 1994
- Place
- Nogales, AZ
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.451°N, 110.830°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01117
NTSB summary
History of the Flight On April 17, 1994, about 1408 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA24-180, N6331P, crashed after departure from runway 03, about 3/4 mile northeast of Nogales International Airport, Nogales, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Phoenix, Arizona, when the accident occurred. The airplane, co-owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed by impact. The certificated private pilot (first pilot), a pilot-rated passenger and co-owner (second pilot), and two passengers received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Nogales Airport as part of an intermediate stop from Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. A VFR flight plan was filed from Guaymas to Nogales. No flight plan was filed from Nogales. At 1324 hours, the aircraft arrived at Nogales after departure from Guaymas at 1125 hours. The pilot proceeded to the U.S. Customs Office to comply with international cross-country flight requirements. The customs inspector on duty reported that the pilot exited and reentered the aircraft from the left front seat. The pilot received a telephone call from the Prescott Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) with a reminder of the need to close his flight plan from Guaymas to Nogales. After clearing customs, the aircraft was observed to depart on runway 03. The customs inspector did not report hearing any unusual engine sounds. Witnesses observed the airplane flying slow about 100 feet above the ground with the landing gear down and headed in a northeast direction
Probable cause
a failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
