Piper PA-28-140 accident near Mesa, Arizona, May 12, 1990
On May 12, 1990 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6431W, was destroyed in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SAFE AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1990 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6431W · no longer on the register · serial 28-20501
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AND MADE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON DEPARTURE, THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS 1/4 FULL. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY, THE PILOT OVER-SHOT HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT. THE PILOT THEN MADE A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE FIELD AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN SHORT OF THE INTENDED RUNWAY.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 353 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,651 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.