Cessna 750 accident near Mesa, Arizona, September 7, 2022
On September 7, 2022 at about 9:53 pm local time, a Cessna 750, registered N15TZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport). It was a positioning 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 improper decision to depart on the accident flight with a known hydraulic leak, resulting in an in-flight hydraulic system failure, and the pilot’s attempt to land during an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2022 · about 9:53 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 750 · all 750s on the register
- Registration
- N15TZ · registry record · serial 750-0127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and copilot departed on a repositioning flight in the twin-engine jet with a known hydraulic leak. The leak was identified before the flight, but the origin of the leak was unknown at the time. Shortly after departing, the landing gear would not retract. The pilots troubleshot the problem, attempted to retract the landing gear multiple times, and realized they had lost the hydraulic fluid in the system used for gear retraction. The flight diverted to an alternate airport; during the landing, the left landing gear tire blew out and the wheel and tire wore down to near the axle on one side of the wheel. The airplane came to rest near the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear centering hydraulic flexible line was frayed and leaked near the upper fitting. This damage resulted in the complete depletion of the hydraulic System A fluid during the crew’s multiple attempts to retract the gear during flight. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was downloaded and revealed that, after the landing gear was confirmed in the down position, the pilot reported that they had all the flaps possible extended since they were limited to 15° (per the airplane flight manual [AFM] “LANDING WITH NO ‘A’ SYSTEM PRESSURE” checklist). A few minutes later the crew discussed the flaps again and referred to the flight manual before setting the flaps to the full down position, contrary to the checklist. For the airplane’s reported weight at the time of the landing, the reference landing speed (Vref) specified by the checklist was between 137 and 138 knots; however, the Vref airspeed was exceeded by 17 knots, resulting in a fast landing to a runway with a downhill gradient that constituted an unstabilized approach. The fast landing and selection of a runway with a downhill gradient, both contrary to the referenced checklist, likely contributed to the blown main tires and the loss of control during the landing roll.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Hydraulic, main system › Failure other cases naming the heating, ice protection and utility systems
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Copilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Cabin crew
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Hydraulic fluid › Related operating info other cases naming the other and general
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Cabin crew
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Cabin crew
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › CRM/MRM techniques › Cabin crew
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,600 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 15,300 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,774.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 18, 2022; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 36,400 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce AS3007C (turbojet); 2,774 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce AE3007C (turbojet); 2,774 hours total
- Operator: Bvs, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KTUS Tucson AZ at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KCID Cedar Rapids IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30L, 10,401 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 60°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 2994.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from IWA
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIWA 092147Z 32003KT 10SM BKN080 35/15 A2968
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
INVESTIGATION PHOTOGRAPHS-FAA ONSITE Photograph 1 – Accident site, main wreckage
INVESTIGATION PHOTOGRAPHS-FAA ONSITE Photograph 2 – Accident site, main wreckage.
INVESTIGATION PHOTOGRAPHS-FAA ONSITE Photograph 3 – Accident site, main wreckage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
16 documents, released by the NTSB on July 10, 2024. 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.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N15TZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 750 Citation X 288 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,683 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rolls-Royce AS3007C · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Rolls-Royce AE3007C 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mesa Gateway Airport · nearest airport
- Tucson International · departed from
- The Eastern Iowa Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,983 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA341.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.