Beech F33A accident near Phoenix, Arizona, November 13, 1992
On November 13, 1992 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N1553A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley airport). It was an instructional 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 DUAL STUDENTS PREMATURE RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF A TOUCH AND GO, AND, THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DEACTIVATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SYSTEMS BY THE COMPANY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN EQUIPMENT DEFICIENCIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1992 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N1553A · registry record · serial CE-1315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND HIS DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO'S. AFTER TOUCH DOWN, THE STUDENT APPLIED POWER AND THEN PREMATURELY MOVED THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE RETRACT POSITION. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO SEVERAL AIRPORT TAXIWAY AND RUNWAY SIGNS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT SOME TIME AGO THE OPERATOR HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES FROM EACH AIRCRAFT IN THE FLEET, AND THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUCTORS WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SUBSEQUENT TO JUNE OF 1989 THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES (SELECTOR LEVER COVER GUARD AND THROTTLE SWITCH) FROM THEIR FLEET. FAA INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THE UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS IN JUNE OF 1992 AND HAD ORDERED THE DEVICES REINSTALLED. THE OPERATOR HAD REINSTALLED THE DEVICES DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERIODS ON ALL OF THE FLEET EXCEPT FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 1,085 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 6,130 as pilot in command; 4,195 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 2, 2000; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR Goodyear AZ at 2:45 pm
- Destination: GYR
- Runway 7, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from DVT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.