Piper PA-38-112 accident near Chandler, Arizona, March 5, 1989
On March 5, 1989 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25620, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (U Of A AG Strip 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 FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN ENCOUNTER WITH AN UNANTICIPATED DOWNDRAFT CONDITION AND FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1989 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · U Of A AG Strip · 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
- N25620 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO A DIRT STRIP AND PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A HIGH SINK RATE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND FIRST AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE ACFT SLID SIDEWAYS.
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: 1,341 hours in all; 542 in this make and model; 291 in the last 90 days; 113 in the last 30 days; 1,152 as pilot in command; 1,006 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,130 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 28, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandler Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.