Piper PA-30 accident near Tucson, Arizona, October 15, 2022
On October 15, 2022 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA-30, registered N7746Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field 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 loss of control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2022 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30, built 1965 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7746Y · registry record · serial 30-837
- 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, while on short final to land, the airplane yawed to the right. The pilot stated that full left rudder was needed to keep the airplane straight. The airplane subsequently touched down hard and departed the right side of the runway. All three landing gear collapsed and the left wing buckled, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engines was conducted, including test runs of both engines. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation or contributed to the loss of control during landing. Engine data from the accident flight were recovered, and no anomalies were noted in the data. Thus, the reason for the pilot’s loss of control during landing could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Unknown/Not determined
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,005 hours in all; 642 in this make and model; 22.9 in the last 90 days; 16.9 in the last 30 days; 9,080 as pilot in command; 3,209 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 2022; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,720 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 B1A (piston); 6,113 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 B1A (piston); 6,113 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KODO Odessa TX at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6L, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am from KRYN, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRYN 151845Z 33004KT 10SM CLR 24/16 A2991
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 8, 2023. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Wreckage and Engine Examination Notes | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | 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.