Piper PA-28-181 and Piper PA-28-181 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, October 30, 2007
On October 30, 2007 at about 3:41 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-181 (N309PA) and Piper PA-28-181 (N923PA), were involved in the same accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The solo student pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the other airplane while taxiing for takeoff.
The failure of the solo student pilot operating the other airplane to maintain clearance while taxiing for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2007 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N309PA · registry record · serial 2843508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N923PA · registry record · serial 2843277
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-181 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first airplane was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second airplane was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first airplane. The local controller asked the solo student pilot of the first airplane if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot erroneously responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first airplane for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second airplane in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first airplane passed under the left wing of the second airplane and then contacted the propeller of the second airplane. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first airplane.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-181 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first airplane was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second airplane was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first airplane. The local controller asked the solo student pilot of the first airplane if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot erroneously responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first airplane for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second airplane in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first airplane passed under the left wing of the second airplane and then contacted the propeller of the second airplane. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first airplane.
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 for the Piper PA-28-181 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,223 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 3:41 pm
- Destination: DVT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DVT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-181 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 554 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command; 550 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,007 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 3:41 pm
- Destination: DVT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N309PA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA08LA015.