Cessna 172R accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 11, 2021
On May 11, 2021 at about 3:10 am local time, a 2001 Cessna 172R, registered N47AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Chandler, Arizona (Stellar Airpark airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to locate the airport which resulted in an approach to a road and subsequent collision with powerlines during a go-around in low light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2021 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Stellar Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R NO SERIES, built 2001 · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N47AF · registry record · serial 17281041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, she was on approach to land at a private airpark while nearing the end of civil twilight. She keyed the radio microphone multiple times during the approach but was unsuccessful to activate the airpark’s high intensity lighting. During the approach she initiated a go around when she realized that she had aligned with a road instead of the runway. During the go around, the airplane struck powerlines, impacted terrain, and came to rest nose down against a fence. The right wing and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Members of the airpark added that shortly after the accident, the airpark’s runway lights were activated and verified to be operational.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Low light › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
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; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 1,003 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 1,173 as pilot in command; 987 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,939.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 245 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 6,274 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflyers Of Texas INC
The flight
- Departed from: KROW Roswell NM at 10:33 pm
- Destination: P19 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,416 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from KCHD, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCHD 110247Z 26008KT 10SM SKC 31/M09 A2975
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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 | Memorandum for Record Airpark 193 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.