Piper PA-18-150 accident near Chandler, Arizona, March 1, 2003
On March 1, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N62712, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Gila Farms 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
the CFI's inadequate supervision and delayed decision to abort the takeoff resulted in the runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Gila Farms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N62712 · registry record · serial 18-7809105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with obstacles during an aborted takeoff from a private dirt strip that was 2,500 feet long. During the instructional flight, the instructor and student were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the third touch-and-go, the instructor felt that they did not have enough power to clear trees at the end of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane went off the end of the runway and into heavy brush and small trees. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine and airframe, and noted no mechanical malfunctions.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,858 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 21, 2003; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCHD Chandler AZ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from CHD, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N62712 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.