Piper PA-38-112 N25620

Summary

On 5 March 1989 at about 18:40 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N25620, operated by Chandler Air Service, was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 March 1989 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

U of A Ag Strip

Coordinates

33.2405, -111.7797

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N25620

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chandler Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chandler → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA121

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN ENCOUNTER WITH AN UNANTICIPATED DOWNDRAFT CONDITION AND FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO A DIRT STRIP AND PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A HIGH SINK RATE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND FIRST AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE ACFT SLID SIDEWAYS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.