Piper PA-28-161 accident near Douglas, Arizona, April 1, 1992
On April 1, 1992 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N28723, was substantially damaged in an accident near Douglas, Arizona (Cochise College Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENCOUNTER WITH AN UNFORECASTED HIGH VELOCITY WIND GUST WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1992 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Arizona · Cochise College Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N28723 · no longer on the register · serial 28-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING TO A RUN-UP AREA ADJACENT TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY FOR A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED A 'SUDDEN STRONG WIND GUST' OCCURRED THAT RENDERED ALL ATTEMPTS OF CROSS-CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT IN A GUSTY WIND CONDITION INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. ADDITIONALLY, TWO WITNESSES LOCATED CLOSE TO THE SCENE REPORTED AN 'EXTREMELY STRONG' WIND GUST SUDDENLY AROSE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH REPORTEDLY RATTLED BUILDING ROOFS AND THREW A PEDESTRIAN AGAINST A STRUCTURE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,981 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,612 as pilot in command; 1,874 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 23, 1992; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 4,800 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 23 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:57 pm from DUG, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.