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Accidents · NTSB LAX86LA034 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Aerotek PITTS S-2A and Piper PA-38-112 mid-air collision near Chandler, Arizona, November 6, 1985

On November 6, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aerotek PITTS S-2A (N42XX) and Piper PA-38-112 (N2315V), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Muni airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
November 6, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 1985
Place
Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Muni · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · mid-air collision
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Aerotek PITTS S-2A · all PITTS S-2As on the register
Registration
N42XX · registry record · serial 2166
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N2315V · registry record · serial 38-82A0085
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Aerotek PITTS S-2A final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR TRAFFIC WHILE MONITORING HIS STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE. THE CFI FAILED TO OBSERVE THAT AN ACFT WAS AHEAD OF HIM IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THAT ACFT WAS AT A LOWER ALTITUDE & WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH FOR THE RWY ON WHICH THE CFI INTENDED TO LAND. THE CFI'S ACFT FLARED FOR LANDING ON TOP OF & COLLIDED WITH THE ACFT WHICH HAD JUST TOUCHED DOWN.

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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR TRAFFIC WHILE MONITORING HIS STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE. THE CFI FAILED TO OBSERVE THAT AN ACFT WAS AHEAD OF HIM IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THAT ACFT WAS AT A LOWER ALTITUDE & WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH FOR THE RWY ON WHICH THE CFI INTENDED TO LAND. THE CFI'S ACFT FLARED FOR LANDING ON TOP OF & COLLIDED WITH THE ACFT WHICH HAD JUST TOUCHED DOWN.

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 for the Aerotek PITTS S-2A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 12,800 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 629 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1985; 62 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming AE10-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Chandler Air Service, INC.

The flight

  • Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 10:30 pm
  • Destination: P10 Chandler AZ
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 22, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 30 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2

The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 64 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,797 hours
  • Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 26, 1985; 78 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 10:15 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 22, 4,400 ft by 75 ft

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX86LA034.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.