Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Chandler, Arizona, October 26, 1995
On October 26, 1995 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N3808F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper installation of an intake manifold tube assembly during engine overhaul which permitted leakage into the induction system resulting in detonation and piston failure in the associated cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1995 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N3808F · registry record · serial 0776
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING DUE TO A ROUGH ENGINE, OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD, AND A RADIO REPORT THAT HIS AIRCRAFT WAS TRAILING SMOKE. DURING THE ROLLOUT ON A DIRT ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL WAS LEAKING AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE #4 CYLINDER, AND THERE WAS A BURNED HOLE IN THE #4 PISTON. THE PROPELLER SHAFT SEAL HAD BEEN DISPLACED FORWARD ONTO THE ENGINE PROPELLER SHAFT, AND THE ENGINE OIL SUPPLY HAD BEEN VENTED OVERBOARD THROUGH THE ENGINE BREATHER AND AROUND THE PROPELLER SHAFT. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 11 HOURS PRIOR TO 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,280 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 3,050 as pilot in command; 2,770 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,559 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1995; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHD AZ at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:22 pm from IWA, 10 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.