The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB LAX90LA028 · Final report

Piper PA38-112 accident near Chandler, Arizona, November 8, 1989

On November 8, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA38-112, registered N25644, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY USE THE CHECKLIST AND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IMPROPERLY SELECTED TO THE EMPTY TANK.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
November 8, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 1989
Place
Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Muni · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA38-112 · all PA38-112s on the register
Registration
N25644 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0033
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT RETURNED FROM THE PRACTICE AREA TO PERFORM TOUCH-&-GO'S. DURING THE FIRST TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS RELANDED BUT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL.

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: student
  • Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,703 hours
  • Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 27, 1989; 21 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: P10 at 8:15 pm
  • Destination: P10
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 22, 4,400 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX90LA028.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.