Piper PA28-161 accident near Chandler, Arizona, October 20, 1991
On October 20, 1991 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Piper PA28-161, registered N8092A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler airport). It was a personal 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
AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION PRODUCED BY EXHAUST VALVES STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA AND A SIGN ADJACENT TO THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1991 · about 4:20 pm 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 PA28-161 · all PA28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8092A · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS DEPARTING THE AIRPORT ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL. THE PILOT SELECTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA ON A ROAD AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. DUE TO POWER LINES ACROSS THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, THE PILOT SELECTED A ROAD PARALLELING AN IRRIGATION DITCH. AFTER CLEARING THE POWER LINES, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A SIGN, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SWERVE INTO THE IRRIGATION DITCH. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT TWO CYLINDERS HAD LITTLE OR NO COMPRESSION. BOTH CYLINDERS HAD VALVES STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
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: 108 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,732 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1991; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-036 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandler Air Service INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,395 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.