Piper PA-22-135 accident near San Manuel, Arizona, November 2, 2008
On November 2, 2008, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N2468A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Manuel, Arizona (San Manuel Airport). It was a business 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 pilot's failure to maintain lateral aircraft control that resulted in collision with terrain during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2008
- Place
- San Manuel, Arizona · San Manuel Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N2468A · no longer on the register · serial 22-805
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to perform a soft-field landing, had full flaps selected, and was managing the descent with the throttle control. As the airplane transitioned to short final, it was configured in a nose-high stabilized approach with full flaps. The pilot added right rudder in attempt to gain visibility out the window straight ahead. With the airplane about 20 to 30 feet above ground level (agl) and 100 feet from the threshold, the pilot applied power to arrest the descent. The increase in power in combination with the rudder input resulted in the airplane's left wing contacting the ground. The pilot further added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 232 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 2007; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-290 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Anasazi Design Services, LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ
- Destination: E77 San Manuel AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.