Nanchang China CJ-6A accident near Peoria, Arizona, May 21, 2024
On May 21, 2024 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1967 Nanchang China CJ-6A, registered N4182C, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Peoria, 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the improper installation of the master connecting rod main bushing set screws, which backed off and allowed the main bushing to shift, resulting in scoring damage on the crankshaft that led to the initiation of a fatigue crack and separation of the forward crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2024 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang China CJ-6A, built 1967 · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N4182C · no longer on the register · serial 2032011
- 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 he was conducting a formation flight with another airplane when the engine began making “clicking” and “banging” sounds, surging in speed, and losing power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the partial loss of engine power but was unsuccessful. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing at a closed gliderport but was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane subsequently crossed over a road and struck an unoccupied camper and the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and engine mount. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft front section was separated (fractured through) at the master connecting rod journal and crankpin areas. The crankshaft fracture surfaces showed features consistent with a fatigue fracture initiating from an area of substantial scoring damage on the journal radius. The master rod main bushing (bearing) was found rotated within its pressed fitting about 90° from its original position and also showed substantial scoring damage and wear. The two main bushing set screws (which held the master rod main bearing in place) were not present and were not identified during the examination. Based on the mechanical damage and deformation observed on the main bushing set screw holes, the forward side of the main bushing edge (positioned nearest to the journal radius), and the connecting rod ends near the set screw areas, the set screws likely loosened and backed out, then remained in the small cavity between the connecting rod ends and the master rod until they sustained enough mechanical deformation to exit the area. The main bushing set screw holes showed three installation chiseled strike marks each, indicating that the main bushing was likely previously replaced two times on the master rod. It is likely that the set screws were not properly installed with the appropriate strike marks, which allowed them to loosen.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 6.4 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 4, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,110 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 5, 2024; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vedeneyev M-14P (piston); 580 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDVT Deer Valley AZ at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KCGZ, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCGZ 211856Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 32/01 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP090 T03170011 PNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2026. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement to Faa-email | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Engine Notes-email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | M-14P Maintenance Manual Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array-onsite (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA159.