Piper PA-28-180 accident near Chandler, Arizona, July 29, 2026
On July 29, 2026 at about 2:49 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9062J, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Chandler, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2026 · about 2:49 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9062J · registry record · serial 28-3096
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 28, 2026, about 1949 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9062J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary ADS-B data obtained from a commercially available source showed that the airplane departed runway 22R at Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona, at 1948:10. The airplane continued southwest on the departure leg and climbed to a reported GPS altitude of about 1,800 ft. The final recorded ADS-B point, at 1949:31, showed a reported ground speed of 45 knots and a descent rate of about 130 ft per minute. Witnesses at a park about 0.5 miles southeast of the accident site reported observing the airplane flying southwest when they heard the engine sound cease. They stated that the airplane then entered a sharp right turn and descended rapidly. A dashcam video provided to the NTSB depicted the airplane in a steep right bank and rapid descent before ground impact. The airplane impacted a commercial plumbing-supply yard about 0.7 miles from the departure end of runway 22L at CHD. The first identified impact point was a ground scar about 30 ft southwest of the main wreckage. The main wreckage was oriented on an approximate magnetic heading of 097° at an elevation of about 1,226 ft mean sea level. The forward fuselage rested on the concrete lot, while the aft fuselage and empennage extended across a curb into an adjacent dirt-and-gravel area. The engine, fuselage, cabin, wings, and empennage exhibited extensive thermal damage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 2:48 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 19,000 ft
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KCHD, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCHD 300147Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW190 41/15 A2970
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR26FA281.