Piper PA-38-112 accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 10, 1987
On May 10, 1987 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2315V, 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 10, 1987 · about 3:10 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
- N2315V · registry record · serial 38-82A0085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, THE STUDENT PLT HAD CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING A SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF. THE STUDENT DID NOT KEEP THE ACFT ALIGNED WITH THE CENTERLINE EVEN AFTER THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO ADD RIGHT RUDDER TO STOP THE DRIFT. JUST PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF THE INSTRUCTOR HAD TO ADD RIGHT RUDDER, AND WHEN THE ACFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ACFT ON THE RWY. THE ACFT WAS JUST AIRBORNE AT THIS TIME THEN TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN APRX 6 FT FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT TRAVELED APRX 80 FT AIRBORNE WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN AND SHEARED THE GEAR OFF. THE INSTRUCTOR THEN LANDED THE ACFT ON THE RWY. THE TAXI SIGN WAS APPROX 8 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. FAA AC 150/5340-18B STATES THAT INFORMATION SIGNS ARE TO BE LOCATED 10 FT FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,327 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 277 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 1,021 as pilot in command; 275 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,877 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 27, 1987; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 2:30 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 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from PHX, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N2315V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.