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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Muni · 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
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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
| 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.