Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181 accident near Mesa, Arizona, November 17, 2025
On November 17, 2025 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2013 Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181, registered N4402N, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Fld airport). It was an instructional 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181, built 2013
- Registration
- N4402N · no longer on the register · serial 2843716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 17, 2025, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Piper PA 28-181, N4402N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that after a training flight they had returned to Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona, where they then conducted 3 touch and go landings and a go-around. They continued their training in the traffic pattern and were in an extended downwind for runway 4L. After entering the base leg of the traffic pattern and as they were preparing for the approach, an uncommanded reduction of power occurred. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and advanced the mixture lever and moved the throttle lever; however, he was unable to restore engine power. The flight instructor soon realized they would not make the runway and assessed the limited landing options. He subsequently made a forced landing on a gravel road that paralleled a water canal. After landing, about 100 yards into the landing roll, the right wing collided with a cinder block fence and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left stabilizer and both wings. The airplane 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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,785.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 2, 2025; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Cae Aviation Academy Phoenix LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04L/, 3,799 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 am from KIWA, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIWA 171447Z 10004KT 10SM CLR 12/09 A3001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.