Piper PA-31-350 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, February 21, 1994
On February 21, 1994 at about 2:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N4109D, suffered minor damage in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOOSE MAIN FUEL LINE 'B' NUT DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1994 · about 2:37 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4109D · no longer on the register · serial 31-8253012
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE RIGHT ENGINE MAIN FUEL LINE 'B' NUT BECAME LOOSE CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE'S ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE DURING THE EVACUATION PROCESS. COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPLACED BOTH ENGINES THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,820 hours in all; 456 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,550 as pilot in command; 90 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arizona Pacific Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 2:14 pm
- Destination: PHX AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8R, 10,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from PHX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.