Piper PA-28-181 accident near Phoenix, AZ

On January 28, 2010, a Piper PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Phoenix, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

January 28, 2010

Place

Phoenix, AZ

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

33.690°N, 112.116°W

NTSB ID

20100128X15344

Official records · WPR10FA120

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Controllers Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Transcription of Communications between N293PA and Local DVT Controller.: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 28, 2010, at 0837 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA28-181, N293PA, collided with wires while attempting to return to the airport at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. Transpac Aviation Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The student pilot was killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. The solo cross-country instructional flight departed DVT at 0831 with a planned destination of Wickenburg, Arizona. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The student pilot departed DVT using runway 07R, and shortly after takeoff requested to return to the airport due to reduced visibility. Witnesses in the area reported seeing the airplane flying at a very low altitude and then hearing one loud bang, and a few seconds later another loud bang. Two witnesses reported that they heard the engine of the airplane prior to the impact. A review of the radar data showed the airplane following a normal right hand traffic pattern for landing on runway 07R, until on base where it overflew the final approach for both runway 07R & 07L. The last radar return is in the area of one of the witnesses and the first identified impact point. Witnesses and first responders reported that the weather at the accident site was low clouds and foggy. The accident site was at the south base of Adobe Mountain, which was about 300 feet higher than the main wreckage site. First responders stated that the clouds obscured the top hal

Probable cause

The student pilot’s decision to take off in marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in an encounter with low clouds, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires while maneuvering in the traffic pattern for landing.

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

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.