Piper PA-23-250 accident near Overgaard, Arizona, August 10, 1995
On August 10, 1995 at about 5:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N14361, was substantially damaged in an accident near Overgaard, Arizona (Mogollon Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of the mixture controls, failure to maintain a proper glidepath, failure to maintain an adequate approach airspeed, and failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1995 · about 5:51 pm local time
- Place
- Overgaard, Arizona · Mogollon Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N14361 · no longer on the register · serial 27-7304948
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE WINDS ON THE SURFACE WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE, AND THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,000 FEET. IN A VERBAL REPORT TO FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN SINKING RAPIDLY ON FINAL AND SHE APPLIED POWER; HOWEVER, THE LEFT ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED SHARPLY LEFT. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT THEN CONTACTED THE TOPS OF TREES 1,500 FEET FROM, AND LEVEL WITH, THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MANAGED TO CLIMB SLIGHTLY, BUT THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO HIT THE RUNWAY HARD AND ADDED POWER AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH MORE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT FULL RICH MIXTURE SETTINGS WERE USED DURING THE APPROACH. THE FAA LOOKED AT THE SPARK PLUGS AND THEY WERE HEAVILY SOOTED. IN HER WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED A GROUP OF TALL PINE TREES WHICH SURROUND THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FOUND NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINES.
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
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1995; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 5:05 pm
- Destination: AZ82
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.