Piper PA-24-180 accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 20, 1984
On March 20, 1984 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N65DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Tuscon International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- March 20, 1984 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tuscon International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N65DB · no longer on the register · serial 1688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER PASSING WATSON INTERSECTION INBOUND TO TUSCON, AZ THE OUTBOARD TIP OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED. THE PLT TURNED THE MAGNETO SWITCH OFF AND SLOWED THE ACFT UNTIL THE PROPELLER STOPPED ROTATING. HE THEN EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING SHORT OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A HARD PACKED DIRT AREA. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING BLADE STUB REVEALED A FATIGUE 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 979 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L70 Agua Dulce CA at 3:19 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from TUC, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.