# NTSB WPR26LA007: Piper PA-30, N8678Y, Gila Bend, AZ, October 6, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2025, 18:10 local (Oct 6, 2025, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ · field off runway edge
- Coordinates: 32.964132, -112.66978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9641&lon=-112.6698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201801
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201801/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201801
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA007

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper throttle input and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the multi-engine airplane reported that during landing just before touchdown, the pilot proceeded to advance the throttles, but he inadvertently only advanced the throttle to the right engine and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted numerous tall shrubs, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have undergone additional multi-engine refresher training with a flight instructor.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8678Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8678Y), registered now, S/N 30-1822 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1822
- Year built: 1969
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TUS, Tucson, AZ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: E63, Gila Bend Municipal Airport, runway 04, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,162 total, 79 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observed at: KLUF, 39 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLUF 060155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/M03 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP051 T02871035 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20251005014059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251005014059A), Oct 5, 2025: Piper PA-30, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. On 10/5/2025, the PIC of a twin-engine Piper twin comanche lost control during a landing attempt to runway 22 at Gila Bend (E63), in Gila Bend Arizona. The PIC…

## Other investigations on N8678Y (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 MIA85LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA060), Dec 14, 1984: Piper PA-30 (N8678Y), Jacksonville, FL, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201801. 3.8 MB in all.

- Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19710252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA007%20Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19722230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.