Beech F33A accident near Marana, Arizona, November 14, 1996
On November 14, 1996 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N1567P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marana, Arizona (Avra Valley airport). It was an instructional 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
improper planning/decision by the flight instructor (CFI), which resulted in his failure to recover from a descent during demonstration of a simulated (engine-out) emergency procedure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1996 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Avra Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N1567P · registry record · serial CE-1296
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that following some air work, the flight proceeded to the Avra Valley Airport where two touch-and-go landings were accomplished, followed by a full stop landing. The student taxied the aircraft back for takeoff, and the instructor took control to demonstrate procedures for an engine failure during the takeoff initial climb. The instructor stated that following a high performance takeoff, 'the airplane climbed to 50 to 100' AGL, at which time I smoothly reduced throttle to idle and lowered nose below level pitch. Airplane began to descend rapidly and I realized that the sink rate was quite large. I applied full throttle and raised nose to attempt to reduce sink. The airplane impacted the ground in approx. level attitude, the nose gear collapsed and the plane slid to a stop in approximately a few hundred feet.' The temperature was reported to be 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Based upon this temperature and the estimated pressure altitude, the density altitude was calculated to be 3,892 feet.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,367 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB18B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E14 Mirana AZ at 6:24 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,901 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.