Aviat S-2C accident near Chandler, Arizona, November 14, 2001
On November 14, 2001 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Aviat S-2C, registered N4HV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the flight instructor to maintain directional control resulted in a departure from the runway surface and collision with a runway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2001 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat S-2C
- Registration
- N4HV · no longer on the register · serial 6001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed the right side of runway 22R and struck a taxiway sign. During the rollout, the nose of the airplane started to move to the left and the right, and the instructor took control of the airplane. The instructor straightened the nose and continued the rollout. As the airplane slowed, the airplane started to move to the right. The instructor pumped left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. He applied and held full left rudder, but determined that the airplane would depart the runway. He released the left rudder pedal and intended to stop in the dirt. However, he did not see a runway sign, which collided with the lower right wing. The collision spun the airplane around resulting in substantial damage to the lower wing spar.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,250 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,986 as pilot in command; 2,713 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 892 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 2001; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandler Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 4,401 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from IWA, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.