Piper PA-28-161 accident near Chandler, Arizona, April 24, 1990
On April 24, 1990 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2110D, 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; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRCRAFT AND AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO PERFORM A STALL RECOVERY. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND STUDENT'S ANXIETY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1990 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2110D · registry record · serial 287916143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT RELATED THAT SHE WAS ON HER SECOND SOLO FLIGHT AND HAD PLANNED TO PERFORM SOME TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS THEN DEPART THE AIRPORT TO THE SOUTH FOR SOME AIR WORK. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PLANNED AIR WORK, SHE ATTEMPTED TO FIND THE AIRPORT AND STATED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTIES FINDING THE AIRPORT AND POSSIBLY OVERFLEW IT. WHEN SHE FOUND THE AIRPORT, SHE SAID THAT SHE BECAME CONCERNED WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL STATUS AND ABOUT TRAFFIC AROUND THE AIRPORT. SHE STATED THAT SHE GOT 'LOW' ON HER APPROACH AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE '...DID NOT SOUND RIGHT.' THE PILOT STATED: 'I KNOW THAT I WAS TOO LOW BECAUSE BOTH VASI LIGHTS WERE RED. THAT IS WHEN I MUST HAVE PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROLS AND STALLED THE PLANE. AN AIR WORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE SCOTTSDALE (ARIZONA) FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FAA) INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO HAVE LOST POWER.
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: 22 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandler Air Service
The flight
- Runway 22, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.