Nanchang CJ-6A accident near Queen Creek, Arizona, November 23, 2006
On November 23, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Nanchang CJ-6A, registered N8181C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Queen Creek, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power resulting from the failure of the engine's air compressor due to a seized piston, which resulted in the stoppage of the oil pump, fuel pump, and tachometer generator, in addition to the compressor. The underlying reason for the piston seizure and air compressor failure is undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2006
- Place
- Queen Creek, Arizona · Falcon Field · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang CJ-6A · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N8181C · registry record · serial 2432061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and collided with a berm during a forced landing on a private airstrip. The pilot stated that during the flight he experienced problems with the engine's air compressor. Several minutes later he experienced a total loss of power. He opted to perform a forced landing at an abandoned airstrip. While on the landing roll, the airplane encountered a berm and the landing gear collapsed. The compressor and gearbox assembly were examined by a maintenance facility. The accessory gearbox had failed as a result of the air compressor piston seizing. The inhibited movement of the gearbox resulted in the failure of the oil pump, fuel pump, air compressor, and tachometer generator.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,251 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 1,202 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,492.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Huosai 6JA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from FFZ, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8181C on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Nanchang CJ-6 7 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Nanchang 8 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Huosai 6JA · as the NTSB recorded it
- Falcon Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX07LA045.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.