Piper PA-28-235 accident near Gilbert, AZ
On August 18, 1995, a Piper PA-28-235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gilbert, AZ. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 18, 1995
- Place
- Gilbert, AZ
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.341°N, 111.811°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04296
NTSB summary
On August 18, 1995, at 1405 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N502MP, collided with the terrain during an emergency landing at Mesa, Arizona. The emergency landing was precipitated by a total loss of power. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules business flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Mesa Police Department, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and two passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Yuma International Airport, Yuma, Arizona, at 1152 hours. A ground witness said that he heard the engine sound, followed by an abrupt silence. The engine started and stopped twice. He last saw the airplane descending and then disappeared behind the trees. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-site investigation. The inspector reported that the airplane landed hard in an open field and came to rest within a short distance. He said that his examination of the wreckage revealed that the left main fuel tank was empty. The fuel tank was not compromised. The right main fuel tank was full and both wing tip tanks contained about 8 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was found selected to the left main fuel tank. The inspector supervised an engine run-up examination at Lycon, Inc., Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona on August 30, 1995. Lycon maintenance personnel replaced the propeller and the carburetor before doing the engine run-up. The engine operated normall
Probable cause
The pilot's fuel system mismanagement and improper emergency procedure. The pilot's misjudging the flare was a factor.
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.
