Howard Aircraft Corp. DGA-15P accident near Mesa, Arizona, March 7, 1982
On March 7, 1982 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Howard Aircraft Corp. DGA-15P, registered N67771, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1982 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Howard Aircraft Corp. DGA-15P
- Registration
- N67771 · no longer on the register · serial 1713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE APPROACHING THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE OWNER/PILOT ASKED THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE MAINTAINED A SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN NORMAL AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO COMPENSATE FOR VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BECAUSE OF THE EXCESS AIRSPEED. DURING THE BOUNCE, THE LEFT WING WAS LIFTED AND THE AIRCRAFT TURNED ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTRIBUTED THIS TO A GUST OF WIND FROM THE LEFT. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND TO CLEAR AN AIRCRAFT ON THE TAXIWAY. THE PLANE CROSSED OVER THE AIRCRAFT ON THE TAXIWAY AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS ON A PARKING RAMP, THEN STALLED. FOUR PARKED AIRCRAFT WERE DAMAGED. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE HAD CLIMBED TO 25 OR 30 FT AGL AND THE PLANE WAS BECOMING MORE STABLE IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN THE OWNER GOT ON THE CONTROLS, PROBABLY TO LOWER THE NOSE AND GAIN AIRSPEED. HE REPORTED MULTIPLE PITCH CONTROL MOVEMENTS AND CHANGES IN THE ANGLE-OF-ATTACK BEFORE THE PLANE STALLED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,254 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,425 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P16 Huachuca AZ at 8:10 am
- Destination: E65 Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.