Fisher Celebrity accident near Chandler, AZ
On June 8, 2002, a Fisher Celebrity (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chandler, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 8, 2002
- Place
- Chandler, AZ
- Aircraft
- Fisher Celebrity · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.205°N, 111.752°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020628X01001
Official records · LAX02FA188
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 8, 2002, about 0730 mountain standard time, a single engine experimental Fisher Celebrity biplane, N8205H, impacted flat desert terrain after the left wings separated from the fuselage near Chandler, Arizona. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, was destroyed. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed the Stellar Airpark Airport (P19), Chandler, at an unknown time. No flight plan had been filed. The flight was scheduled to terminate at P19. Witnesses in the area indicated that they heard a "pop" and sputtering of an engine. When they looked up into the air, they saw the accident airplane with the left wings folded back. Witness also stated that the airplane was disintegrating in the air. According to a witness, who was outside her house, the airplane was flying in a southerly direction. She looked up because she heard the airplane fly overhead and it sounded like it was really close to the ground. She saw the airplane in a nose high attitude, with one of the wings parallel to the airplane. The witness stated that she saw the nose drop; the wings folded, and then she watched the airplane spiral to the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. The pilot received his private pilot certificate on June 5, 2002. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate is
Probable cause
failure of the wing spars and the in-flight separation of the aircraft wing due to the builder's inadequate manufacture of this experimental aircraft. Also causal was the current owner/pilot's continued flight with known mechanical discrepancies.
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Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
