# Accident 20210802012349A: Piper PA-28-140, Tubac, AZ, August 2, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2021, 09:45 local time
- Place: Tubac, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.6516° N, 111.0479° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6516&lon=-111.0479&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44245, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA301) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210802012349A

## Narrative

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

ON 2 AUGUST, 2021 AROUND 0945 LOCAL TIME A CHEROKEE 140 MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING INTO A FIELD A COUPLE MILES NE OF TUBAC OUTSIDE OF NOGALES, ARIZONA. PILOT REPORTED AT ABOUT 6,000 MSL IN LEVEL FLIGHT, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE PLANE STARTED VIBRATING. THE PILOT CHECKED THE MAGS BY CYCLING THEM, AND VERIFIED THAT THE CYLINDERS WERE ALL IN THE GREEN AND WHERE WITHIN NORMAL OPERATION LIMITS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO STOP THE VIBRATION, AND DO A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. THE PILOT CAME IN TOO FAST TO MAKE THE INTENDED LANDING SPOT, AND DECIDED TO LAND IN THE NEXT FIELD THAT WAS SEPARATED BY A FENCE AND TREE LINE. THE RIGHT WING HIT A TREE BRANCH, AND THE NEXT FIELD WAS WET AND MUDDY WHICH DAMAGED THE LANDING GEAR  RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE CREW EXITED THROUGH THE PILOT WINDOW AS THE AIRCRAFT DOOR WAS INOPERABLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE DUE TO THE WING DAMAGE. TWO PERSONS WERE ON BOARD AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.

THERE WAS EVIDENCE INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROPELLER BLADE SEPERATION BUT NOT BLADE WAS RECOVERED FORM THE ACCIDNET SITE.  SIGNS OF DAMAGE WITH THE AIRFRAME AND SKINS RIVETS ON THE FRONT END OF THE AIRCRAFT SUGGEST REQUIRE MORE ANALYSIS AND THE NTSB WILL BE ANALYZING PIECES OF THE PROPELLER FOR FINAL CLARIFICATIONS.

AWAITING MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NTSB ON UPDATED ANALYSIS.

## 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 WPR21LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA301), Aug 2, 2021: Piper PA-28-140 (N44245), Amado, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inflight separation of a section of a propeller blade due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in a forced landing.

## Other reports on N44245 (3)

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

- [Accident 19960807029789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960807029789A), Aug 7, 1996: Piper PA28140 (N44245), Rensslaer, IN, Substantial damage. Bounced on hard landing. Stopped off runway. Returned to base. Prop, nose gear, fire wall damaged. Wings wrinkled. (-23) on August 7, 1996, at 1100 CDT, a…
- [Accident 19800723027449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800723027449A), Jul 23, 1980: Piper PA28140 (N44245), Peru, ID, Substantial damage. Engine stopped on final approach for runway. Aircraft touched down short of runway. Fuel strainer found loose.
- [Incident 19780731044589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780731044589I), Jul 31, 1978: Piper PA28140 (N44245), Madison, WI. Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. Quick drain sump on the right side was opened by bird strike.

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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