Piper PA-34-200 accident near Sedona, Arizona, May 29, 1993
On May 29, 1993 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N5388T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was a lack of total experience in the aircraft type.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1993 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5388T · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING AT AN AIRPORT SITUATED ON A HIGH MESA. THE AIRPORT DIRECTORY NOTES THAT TURBULENCE MAY BE EXPEREINCED NEAR THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED 28 HOURS OF EXPEREINCE IN THE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 279 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 156 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1EG (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Desert Pacific
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 4:22 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.