Piper PA-22-150 accident near Payson, Arizona, March 29, 1988
On March 29, 1988 at about 2:10 am local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N8524D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Pumkin Center airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1988 · about 2:10 am local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Pumkin Center · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8524D · registry record · serial 22-5752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL A DUST DEVIL (WHIRLWIND) PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY, COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND VELOCITY WAS 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 AS A QUARTERING CROSSWIND.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,250 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 6,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,002 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 1:00 am
- Destination: Payson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:10 pm
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8524D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 2,942 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,847 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,313 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Falcon Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,983 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,410 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX88LA143.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.