Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 19, 2013
On May 19, 2013 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8197W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Chandler, Arizona (Stellar Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the alternator and/or battery, which prevented the operation of the landing gear extension system and resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2013 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Stellar Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8197W · registry record · serial 32R-8029050
- 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 1 hour 10 minutes into the flight, the airplane began experiencing alternator and battery problems. The radios were inoperative because there was no electrical power, so he diverted from an airport with an air traffic control tower to an airport without one. He selected the landing gear lever to extend the gear normally. He also operated the emergency landing gear extension system. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, the airplane departed the runway, and the right wing leading edge and aileron sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, a check of the alternator found no field and no output voltage. The battery was charged to 12 volts, and it subsequently discharged to 10 volts with no load over 1 hour. The airplane was equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, which was hydraulically operated by an electrically powered reversible pump; the loss of electrical power prevented the hydraulic pump from actuating, which prevented the landing gear from extending normally. However, operation of the emergency extension system allowed the landing gear to free-fall, and two springs were provided to assist the NLG to the down position. During postaccident testing with battery power, the landing gear operated normally during both normal operation and emergency extension; the failure of the NLG to lock could not be duplicated. The landing gear positions were indicated by three green lights located above the selector lever for the gear down-and-locked position. However, these lights would not have been operable due to the total electrical failure, and, therefore, the pilot had no means to verify that all three landing gear were not down and locked before touchdown.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › AC generator › alternator › Inoperative
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Battery/charger › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Inoperative
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 382 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 382 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 2012
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 430 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA
- Destination: IWA Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,913 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from KCHD, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8197W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.