# Accident 20031020028569A: Piper PA28235, Mesa, AZ, October 20, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 2003, 16:15 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4608° N, 111.7283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9338W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9338W-2004-01-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28235
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031020028569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED FFZ ON A LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE COWLING UNLATCHED. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN A 180 TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. TOWER WAS NOTIFIED OF HIS INTENTIONS. THE PILOT'S VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE COWLING. HE STATED THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER TO KEEP AIRSPEED LOW THINKING THAT WOULD HELP KEEP THE COWLING ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. AIRMAN WAS COUNSELED. NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA021), Oct 20, 2003: Piper PA-28-235 (N9338W), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Also causal, was the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to secure the right side of the engine…

## Other reports on N9338W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19811123083809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811123083809I), Nov 23, 1981: Piper PA28235 (N9338W), Tilford, SD. Engine quit, landed on a road, magneto impulse coupling failed, dowel pin jammed gears. Failed drive gear.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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