Piper PA32-301T accident near Show Low, Arizona, April 24, 1985
On April 24, 1985, a Piper PA32-301T, registered N8275P, was destroyed in an accident near Show Low, Arizona (Show Low Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 24, 1985
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · Show Low Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-301T · all PA32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8275P · registry record · serial 32824051
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER GIVING THE PILOT AIRPORT ADVISORIES,VIA UNICOM, THE REFUELER DROVE THE REFUELING TRUCK ACROSS THE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PILOT UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE IMPACT, ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF BEFORE REACHING THE TANKER. THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR IMPACTED THE REFUELING TANK AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB. AFTER THE COLLISION THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON THE RUNWAY.
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: 433 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 377 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,098 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1984; 136 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TI0540S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Showlow AZ
- Destination: P13 Globe AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,920 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from SOW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.