Piper PA-28-151 accident near Parker, Arizona, April 30, 1995
On April 30, 1995 at about 5:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N41981, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker, Arizona (Avi Suquilla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure and separation of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve. Darkness was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1995 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Parker, Arizona · Avi Suquilla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N41981 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415378
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE SQUAWKED 7700 AND ASKED THE FLIGHT SERVICE TO IDENTIFY THE NEAREST AIRPORT. AS THE PILOT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT, HE MADE A THROTTLE REDUCTION AND THE ENGINE QUIT. HE THEN ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. DURING THE ATTEMPT, HIS LEFT WING GRAZED THE ROOF OF A CAR. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE HEAD OF THE NO. 2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 859 hours in all; 784 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 746 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1994; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 3:30 am
- Destination: HII Lake Havasu Cit AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 1, 4,782 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from BLH, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.