Piper PA28R accident near Chandler, Arizona, June 30, 2019
On June 30, 2019 at about 1:55 am local time, a 1973 Piper PA28R, registered N786N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Municipal airport). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusting right quartering headwind, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2019 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 200, built 1973 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N786N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7435095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a second touch-and-go landing with a gusting right quartering headwind. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane drifted to the left, and the left wing dropped. The pilot compensated for the sideward movement by applying full right rudder, which yawed the airplane to the right. The airplane touched down about this time and the pilot immediately applied full brakes. However, the airplane was canted to the right as it continued down the runway bearing a sideload on the left main landing gear until the left gear collapsed. The airplane ground looped and came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, stabilator, and empennage. Examination of the landing gear did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. The accident was most likely a result of a side load to the left main landing gear due to the pilot’s overcompensation of rudder control while landing in a right quartering crosswind.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 577 hours in all; 479 in this make and model; 474 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,834 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 773 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 1:25 am
- Destination: CHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 4,401 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from CHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Communication (Pilot) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Memorandum (Manufacturer) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airframe Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.