Piper PA-38-112 accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 2, 1987
On May 2, 1987 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25111, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- May 2, 1987 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N25111 · registry record · serial 38-80A0032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AND INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT ON SHORT AND SOFT FIELD LANDINGS, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AN UNOBSERVED DUST DEVIL HIT THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RAISED APPROXIMATELY 60 FT AGL. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 627 hours in all; 216 in this make and model; 303 in the last 90 days; 119 in the last 30 days; 506 as pilot in command; 265 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,388 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 3, 1987; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L26 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 9:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,395 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from CHD, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.