Nanchang China CJ-6A accident near Mesa, Arizona, February 7, 2010
On February 7, 2010 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Nanchang China CJ-6A, registered N6263D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Separation of the cylinder from the engine during cruise flight due to fatigue in the studs attaching it to the engine casing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2010 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang China CJ-6A · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N6263D · no longer on the register · serial 4732023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 30 minutes into the 45 minute-long flight, the engine began vibrating and he maneuvered the airplane back towards the airport. As the airplane joined the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot heard a "bang," followed by the engine experiencing complete loss of engine power. Unable to land at the airport due to altitude loss, the pilot performed a forced landing in an adjacent park. During the landing sequence the airplane struck a building while the pilot attempted to avoid a pedestrian. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and forward fuselage. Examination of the radial engine revealed that one of the cylinder heads and its associated piston had become separated. The remaining internal sections of the engine sustained catastrophic damage, consistent with continued rotation after the failure of the cylinder. Half of the studs attaching the failed cylinder to the head exhibited fatigue signatures consistent with insufficient clamping pressure applied to their nuts. A full service history for the engine was not located; however, maintenance records indicated that the cylinder head had not been removed in the 11 years and 317 flight 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
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: 2,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 2,430 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,339 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 9, 2009; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,087 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Falcon Field AZ at 3:05 pm
- Destination: FFZ Falcon Field AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from KIWA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.