Piper PA-32-300 accident near Willcox, Arizona, April 12, 2024
On April 12, 2024 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA-32-300, registered N4011R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Willcox, Arizona (Inde Motorsports Ranch Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in collision with an object.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2024 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Willcox, Arizona · Inde Motorsports Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300, built 1967 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4011R · registry record · serial 32-40304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff with a right crosswind, he encountered a strong gust of wind that pushed the airplane into a 3-foot-tall wall located on the left side of the runway. The airplane’s left main landing gear subsequently struck the wall, which liberated the entire left main landing gear assembly from the airplane. The pilot then elected to continue to his home airport where he made a successful emergency landing. During the emergency landing, the left wing struck the surface of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the main wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 409.5 hours in all; 295 in this make and model; 55.7 in the last 90 days; 5.1 in the last 30 days; 335.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 9, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,305.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2023; 188.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 5,305 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 93AZ Willcox AZ at 10:10 pm
- Destination: KFFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KTUS, 48 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTUS 122153Z 22012G24KT 10SM CLR 31/M06 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 22030/2142 SLP093 T03061061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of left wing and fuselage
Photograph 2 – Image of detached left main landing gear
Photograph 3 – Image of left wing, fuselage, and empennageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 20, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.