Piper PA-44-180 accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 23, 1982
On May 23, 1982 at about 7:57 am local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N2091K, was destroyed in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- May 23, 1982 · about 7:57 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2091K · registry record · serial 44-79-9517
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED CHANDLER, AZ WITH THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATING 40 PLUS GALLONS IN EACH TANK. AFTER A 1.2 HR FLIGHT TO LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ, THE GAUGES INDICATED 20 PLUS GALLONS IN EACH TANK. DURING THE RETURN TRIP TO CHANDLER AT NIGHT, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER AFTER DESCENDING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. AT THAT TIME, BOTH FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 10 GALLONS REMAINING IN EACH TANK. THE PILOT SAW THE LIGHTS OF A CAR AND TRIED TO LINE UP ON ITS TAIL LIGHTS TO LAND ON THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE PLANE STRUCK A POWERLINE, HIT THE TOP OF A TREE, AND THEN IMPACTED ON A LAWN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO INDICATION OF FUEL REMAINING IN EITHER TANK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Venture Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LHU Lake Havasu AZ at 11:50 pm
- Destination: P1O Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,820 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.