Cessna 152 accident near Peoria, Arizona, June 8, 2006
On June 8, 2006 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N627PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peoria, Arizona (Deer Valley Airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of both the flight instructor and student pilot to regain control of the airplane in a timely manner during an intentional spin maneuver, resulting in a collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2006 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Arizona · Deer Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N627PA · registry record · serial 15281078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The high-wing airplane descended into terrain during a spin training flight. Review of recorded radar data found that the accident flight appeared to last about 0.7 hours, during which time the airplane completed about 7 stall/spin maneuvers, all of which consisted of climbs and subsequent quick losses of altitude (about 1,000 feet). The last two radar returns were at 5,500 and 3,400 feet mean sea level, respectively, and spanned about 20 seconds. The flight instructor conducted an uneventful 1.2-hour spin training flight in the accident airplane on the morning of the accident. The student pilot on the accident flight was enrolled in a course to receive his certified flight instructor certificate, which required spin training. The student had never flown in a high-wing airplane. Two of his past flight instructors recalled several occasions in which he locked his grip on the flight controls, failing to relinquish control or allow the instructors to move the controls. The airplane was determined to be within the allowable weight and center of gravity (CG) envelope for operations. The ground scars and wreckage deformation was consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a spin. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.
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: 903 hours in all; 727 as pilot in command; 428 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 24 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,746.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2006; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pan Am International Flight Academy
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 9:45 pm
- Destination: DVT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from DVT, 17 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.