Piper PA-28-180 accident near Yuma, Arizona, April 20, 1993
On April 20, 1993 at about 4:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N3656R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma Interantional airport). It was an instructional 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING AND HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE PILOT'S LOW TOTAL EXPERIENCE, 2) THE FUEL IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE WING FUEL TANKS, AND 3) THE MENTAL PERFORMANCE OVERLOAD CREATED BY THE MULTIPLE RUNWAY ASSIGNMENT CHANGES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1993 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma Interantional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3656R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS CHANGED HER RUNWAY ASSIGNMENT SEVERAL TIMES AND SHE SAID SHE WAS QUITE TENSE. THE PILOT SAID SHE WAS CONFUSED AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 21L INSTEAD OF 26. JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER LEFT. THE PILOT SAID SHE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT, THE LEFT WING TOUCHED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS FULL.
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: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1993; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E14 Tucson AZ at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21L, 9,239 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from YUM, 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.
Other NTSB records under N3656R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.