Piper PA 22-150 accident near Fountain Hills, Arizona, March 2, 2016
On March 2, 2016 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1956 Piper PA 22-150, registered N4356A, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Fountain Hills, Arizona. It was a personal 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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2016 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fountain Hills, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22-150, built 1956 · all PA 22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4356A · no longer on the register · serial 22-3712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, after a preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies, he and a passenger departed, circled a nearby mountain, then descended to an altitude about 750 ft above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power, but was unsuccessful, and he elected to land the airplane on a dry wash. As the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear sank into the dirt, and the airplane made a sharp turn to the right. The airplane impacted a tree and came to rest nose down. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. A postaccident engine examination and test run revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; therefore, the reason for the loss of partial engine power could not be determined.
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 (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 2, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,480.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IWA Mesa AZ at 10:40 pm
- Destination: IWA Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from FFZ, 6 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.