# NTSB WPR26LA045: Piper PA-28-181, N4402N, Mesa, AZ, November 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: November 17, 2025, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.447978, -111.73866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4480&lon=-111.7387&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA045
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA045

## Preliminary report

On November 17, 2025, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Piper PA 28-181, N4402N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that after a training flight they had returned to Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona, where they then conducted 3 touch and go landings and a go-around. They continued their training in the traffic pattern and were in an extended downwind for runway 4L. After entering the base leg of the traffic pattern and as they were preparing for the approach, an uncommanded reduction of power occurred. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and advanced the mixture lever and moved the throttle lever; however, he was unable to restore engine power. The flight instructor soon realized they would not make the runway and assessed the limited landing options. He subsequently made a forced landing on a gravel road that paralleled a water canal. After landing, about 100 yards into the landing roll, the right wing collided with a cinder block fence and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left stabilizer and both wings. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4402N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4402N-2026-02-05), registration cancelled 2026-02-05, S/N 2843716, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2843716
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 12785.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Cae Aviation Academy Phoenix LLC
- Registered owner: Cae Aviation Academy Phoenix LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 2, 2025, 47 hours before
- Airport: FFZ, Falcon Fld, runway 04L/22R, 3,799 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KIWA, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KIWA 171447Z 10004KT 10SM CLR 12/09 A3001

## 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 20251117020479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251117020479A), Nov 17, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. On November 17, 2025, a PA-28 Piper archer conducting an instructional flight experienced a loss of engine power while turning from base to final for runway 4L…

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.

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