- Date
- August 18, 1995, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Gilbert, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N502MPPiper PA-28-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950818025589A
- Case key
- 29191
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's fuel system mismanagement and improper emergency procedure. The pilot's misjudging the flare was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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.
Factual narrative
On August 18, 1995, at 1405 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N502MP, collided with the terrain during an emergency landing at Mesa, Arizona. The emergency landing was precipitated by a total loss of power. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules business flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Mesa Police Department, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and two passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Yuma International Airport, Yuma, Arizona, at 1152 hours.
A ground witness said that he heard the engine sound, followed by an abrupt silence. The engine started and stopped twice. He last saw the airplane descending and then disappeared behind the trees.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-site investigation. The inspector reported that the airplane landed hard in an open field and came to rest within a short distance.
He said that his examination of the wreckage revealed that the left main fuel tank was empty. The fuel tank was not compromised. The right main fuel tank was full and both wing tip tanks contained about 8 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was found selected to the left main fuel tank.
The inspector supervised an engine run-up examination at Lycon, Inc., Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona on August 30, 1995. Lycon maintenance personnel replaced the propeller and the carburetor before doing the engine run-up. The engine operated normally during the run-up.
The carburetor broke off from its attach points. Disassembly examination of the carburetor, a Facit MA-4-4, serial No. R4410924, revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures. The carburetor bowl and inlet screens were free of contaminates.
The pilot told the FAA inspector and other police investigators that he does not recall any of the events preceding the accident. The Mesa Police Department reported that the pilot sustained extensive head injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N502MP
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7310096
- Airframe hours
- 2,582
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B4B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mesa Police Department
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 20, 1995 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- YUM · Yuma, AZ
- Destination
- FFZ · Mesa, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 50 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FFZ
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.