Piper PA-28-235 accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, August 29, 1992
On August 29, 1992 at about 9:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8647W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande Muni 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
THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY NATURE OF THE CROSS WIND CONDIITONS ENCOUNTERED WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1992 · about 9:41 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8647W · registry record · serial 28-10163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 5 AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING A 'BAD CROSS WIND.' THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT FIXTURE WITH THE LEFT WING TIP, CARTWHEELED, THEN NOSED OVER. A AUTOB WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 21 KNOTS.
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: 179 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,519 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ at 9:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:41 pm from CGZ, 1 miles away
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.