Piper PA28 accident near Wickenburg, Arizona, April 25, 2018
On April 25, 2018, a 1999 Piper PA28, registered N922PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Wickenburg, Arizona (Wickenburg Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to relinquish flight controls and premature flap reduction during approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2018
- Place
- Wickenburg, Arizona · Wickenburg Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 181, built 1999 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N922PA · registry record · serial 2843270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, while abeam the intended touchdown point, he reduced power to idle for the student pilot to perform a simulated engine failure approach. The student pilot maneuvered for the runway and added full flaps (40°), decreasing airspeed to about 62 to 68 knots. The instructor asked the student if he believed he would be able to make the runway given his airspeed, and the student pilot retracted the flaps to 0° and then back to 25°. The airplane began to sink, the flight instructor added full flaps to "regain some lift," and he instructed the student pilot to recover. The student pilot put both hands on the yoke and pitched up. The flight instructor said "my controls," applied full power, and attempted to lower the nose, but the student pilot froze and continued to pitch up. The flight instructor repeated the exchange of flight controls command, the student pilot released control of the yoke and retracted the flaps to 0°. The flight instructor put the flaps back to 25° and pitched the nose down in an attempt to recover. The airplane struck the top of a tree, the flight instructor reduced power and landed short of the runway; the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, after conducting interviews, it was revealed that the flight instructor took control of the airplane "well below 500 feet from the ground." He also added that there may have been a communication barrier between the flight instructor and the student pilot. He reported that the student pilot paused for 20 to 30 seconds to comprehend each question before answering.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Reading/language comprehension › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 974 hours in all; 712 in this make and model; 226 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 896 as pilot in command; 682 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,121.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 6, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 3,847 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Destination: E25 Wickenburg AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,101 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA18CA234.