Cessna T303 accident near Mesa, Arizona, May 14, 1985
On May 14, 1985 at about 2:43 am local time, a Cessna T303, registered N4661V, was destroyed in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Fld. airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 14, 1985 · about 2:43 am local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N4661V · no longer on the register · serial T30300276
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT TOOK OFF FROM SCOTTSDALE AT 1934 MST FOR A 13 NM FLT TO REPOSITION THE ACFT TO HOME BASE. WITHIN MINUTES THE PLT ADVISED ATC THAT HE WAS 6 MI OUT WITH MINIMUM FUEL AND REQUESTED NO DELAY. HE THEN ASKED FOR CLEARANCE TO RWY 22R AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 22R, AT 1943 MST THE PLT ADVISED THE TWR THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RWY. BOTH ENGS HAD STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING 1/4 MILE FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 22R IN A LEVEL DIRT AREA. THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT CONTAINED 120 LBS OF FUEL UPON DEPARTURE FROM SCOTTSDALE AND NO LOW FUEL WARNING WAS RECEIVED. THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK STATES THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN 60 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EITHER TANK OR WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN 120 GALLONS TOTAL FUEL ON BOARD. THE MANUAL ALSO STATED THE ACFT BURNS 170 GPH AT 70 PERCENT POWER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,665 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 2:34 am
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from FFZ, 1 miles away
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.
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.