Piper PA-28-235 accident near Gilbert, Arizona, August 18, 1995
On August 18, 1995 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N502MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilbert, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's fuel system mismanagement and improper emergency procedure. The pilot's misjudging the flare was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1995 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbert, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N502MP · no longer on the register · serial 28-7310096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT, RESTARTED, AND QUIT AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN AN OPEN FIELD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SELECTED TO THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE TWO TIP TANKS AND THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CONTAINED FUEL. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING AN ENGINE RUN-UP. THE CARBURETOR WAS FREE OF CONTAMINATES.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,582 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ at 6:52 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from FFZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.