What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 19, 2024, at approximately 15:15 LCL, after departing Falcon Field (ffz) runway 22L with 2 persons on board, a Piper cherokee pa 24-250, experienced engine failure at approximately 3500MSL. The PIC, who is also the privacy data omitted/operator of the aircraft, and one passenger were on board. The PIC made an attempted return to the airport heading NE by making a 180-degree turn to land the aircraft on runway 4L. The aircraft was unable to reach the airport and made an off-airfield landing, impacting trees in an orange grove approximately ½ mile from the airport. The aircraft’s PIC was conducting a 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The two occupants were uninjured. The aircraft experienced substantial damage. At the direction of NTSB iic, the aircraft was retrieved by a local aircraft recovery and salvage business for further investigation and has been recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination. As necessary, amendments to this report will be made as further information becomes available.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 19, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:15 LCL, AFTER DEPARTING FALCON FIELD (FFZ) RUNWAY 22L WITH 2 PERSONS ON BOARD, A PIPER CHEROKEE PA 24-250, EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 3500MSL. THE PIC, WHO IS ALSO THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^/OPERATOR OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ONE PASSENGER WERE ON BOARD. THE PIC MADE AN ATTEMPTED RETURN TO THE AIRPORT HEADING NE BY MAKING A 180-DEGREE TURN TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 4L. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND MADE AN OFF-AIRFIELD LANDING, IMPACTING TREES IN AN ORANGE GROVE APPROXIMATELY ½ MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT’S PIC WAS CONDUCTING A 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE UNINJURED. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AT THE DIRECTION OF NTSB IIC, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETRIEVED BY A LOCAL AIRCRAFT RECOVERY AND SALVAGE BUSINESS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND HAS BEEN RECOVERED TO A SECURE STORAGE FACILITY FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. AS NECESSARY, AMENDMENTS TO THIS REPORT WILL BE MADE AS FURTHER INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.