Piper PA-22-20 accident near Florence, Arizona, December 23, 1992
On December 23, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-20, registered N9436D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florence, Arizona. It was a personal 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
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH; HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT; AND, DELAY IN EXECUTING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-20 · all PA-22-20s on the register
- Registration
- N9436D · no longer on the register · serial 22 6410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-22-20 COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER A REPORTED PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER WHILE CRUISING ABOUT 1,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT SELECTED A LONG FLAT FIELD AS AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED BEYOND HIS DESIRED TOUCHDOWN POINT AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BUT STRUCK SOME TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD WHEN IT DID NOT ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THEM. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC (A&P). THE A&P DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF POWER AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT.
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: 193 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 8:30 pm
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from CGZ, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.