Piper PA-23-250 accident near Marana, Arizona, August 30, 1995
On August 30, 1995 at about 12:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N7156T, was destroyed in an accident near Marana, Arizona (Avra Valley airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor installation of the propeller which allowed the propeller to become loose, and the pilot's improper emergency procedure by feathering the wrong propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1995 · about 12:53 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Avra Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7156T · no longer on the register · serial 27-3601
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT MARIJUANA IN DUFFLE BAGS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RIGHT PROPELLER BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM ITS MOUNTING FLANGE. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE AIRPORT, FEATHERED THE WRONG PROPELLER AND BEGAN TO THROW OUT THE DUFFLE BAGS. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE, WIRES, AND A PRIVATELY OWNED RESIDENCE. TWO PERSONS IN THE RESIDENCE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE POST ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER MOUNTING STUDS SAFETY WIRE WAS BROKEN AND THREE OF THE SIX PROPELLER MOUNTING STUDS WERE BROKEN. THE REMAINING MOUNTING STUDS HAD BACKED OFF. THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL SYSTEM CONTAINED EXTENSIVE METAL PARTICLES AND THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL SCREEN WAS ALTERED TO ALLOW UNFILTERED OIL FLOW.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: E14 AZ at 12:51 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from TUS, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.