Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28-235 N502MP

18 August 1995 · Gilbert, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 18 August 1995 at about 21:05 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N502MP was involved in an accident near Gilbert, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:05
Classification
Accident
Location
Gilbert, Arizona, United States
Coordinates
33.3407, -111.8105
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-235
Registration
N502MP
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Yuma → Mesa
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX95LA299

People

3 people were seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 3 0 0

Probable cause

The pilot's fuel system mismanagement and improper emergency procedure. The pilot's misjudging the flare was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT, RESTARTED, AND QUIT AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN AN OPEN FIELD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SELECTED TO THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE TWO TIP TANKS AND THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CONTAINED FUEL. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING AN ENGINE RUN-UP. THE CARBURETOR WAS FREE OF CONTAMINATES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
29 Sep 1995 Piper PA-28-161
N3203Q
Rutland, Vermont, United States
no coordinates
Pierre Gourinchas No injuries -
24 Sep 1995 Piper PA-28-180
N2418R
Warwick, New York, United States Theodore LEB No injuries -
24 Jun 1995 Piper PA-28-181
N6911P
Palm Springs, California, United States Alan L. Kaplan No injuries -
16 Aug 1995 Piper PA-28-140
N44784
Bolivar, Tennessee, United States Alec S. Bari No injuries -
3 Jul 1995 Piper PA-28-140
N55365
Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States - Minor injuries -
1 Jul 1995 Piper PA-28-161
N8399T
Carmel Valley, California, United States - Serious injuries -

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Jun 1995 Cessna 180
N2362C
Chandler, Arizona, United States - Minor injuries -
1 Jul 1995 Piper PA-22-160
N2820Z
Payson, Arizona, United States - Minor injuries -
6 Jul 1995 Piper PA-25-235
N9188T
Maricopa, Arizona, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
24 Apr 1995 Cessna 172D
N2587Y
Tsaile, Arizona, United States BOB Werra Fatal 4
12 Jan 1995 Cessna 208B
N746FE
Flagstaff, Arizona, United States Empire Airlines, Inc. Fatal 1
1 Aug 1995 North American AT-6B
N105DG
Glendale, Arizona, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States