Cessna 140 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 5:40 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2256N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor airport). 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 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 29, 1982 · about 5:40 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2256N · no longer on the register · serial 12492
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10 HAD LANDED AND PROCEEDED TO THE RAMP AREA. AS HE ENTERED THE RAMP AND STARTED TOWARD GATE 6, THE GREEN SIGNAL LIGHT CHANGED TO RED AND THE PILOT STOPPED WITH THE DC-10'S TAIL POINTED TOWARD THE PARRALLEL TAXIWAY BESIDE RUNWAY 08R. THE PILOT WAS SIGNALED TO STOP SINCE THE JETWAY HAD BEEN MOVED OUT PREMATURELY. JUST PRIOR TO THIS TIME, A CESSNA 140, N2256N, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 08R. THE CESSNA PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO STAY ON THE RUNWAY UNTIL ABEAM THE REPUBLIC HANGER. INSTEAD OF STAYING ON THE RUNWAY, THE CESSNA PILOT TURNED OFF AND TAXIED ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. AS HE WAS CROSSING (AT NIGHT) BEHIND THE DC-10, THE DC-10 PILOT GOT A GREEN SIGNAL TO TAXI INTO THE GATE. THE DC-10 PILOT ADDED 35% POWER ON 1 ENGINE AND THE JET BLAST BLEW THE CESSNA OVER. NEITHER OF THE GROUND HANDLERS SAW THE CESSNA BEFORE SIGNALING THE DC-10 TO MOVE INTO THE GATE. THE ATC CONTROLLER STATED THAT HE SAW THE CESSNA TURN OFF THE RUNWAY EARLY, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO CONFLICTING TRAFFIC, HE MADE TWO MORE TRANSMISSIONS.
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: 182 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 10:20 pm
- Destination: C Crystal City TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8R, 8,850 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N2256N 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.