Beech F33A accident near Greer, Arizona, September 21, 2003
On September 21, 2003 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N927JL, was destroyed in an accident near Greer, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane is missing for unknown reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2003 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Greer, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N927JL · no longer on the register · serial CE-346
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Family members and friends of the pilot said that he had departed the southern California area. He landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data last recorded the airplane at N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground speed. The pilot did talk with the ARTCC control approximately 3 minutes after the last radar return, and he was told to contact Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) over St John, Arizona. His last position and heading indicated that the airplane was flying into rising mountainous terrain, with elevations topping at 11,250 feet. The Civil Air Patrol units of New Mexico and Arizona flew extensive searches for the missing aircraft, but the airplane was never found. The search was suspended on October 18, 2003.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 9,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 5:30 pm
- Destination: ADS Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from SJN, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.