Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-140 near Phoenix, AZ — 2026-03-04

Investigation ongoingWPR26FA119
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Date
2026-03-04
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
DVT
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-140
Registration
N7744T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On March 4, 2026, about 0721 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7744T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The flight instructor was seriously injured, and the student pilot and one person on the ground sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Preliminary ADS-B data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the airplane departed from runway 07R at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona, about 0715, and continued on the upwind leg for about 1.5 miles before making a slight left turn toward the northeast. According to the student pilot, the flight was destined for the northeast practice area. About 0719, at an altitude of about 1,700 ft above ground level, ADS-B data showed that the airplane initiated a left turn to the west in the direction of DVT. The airplane subsequently entered a gradual descent and continued a southwestern track toward DVT for about 2.8 miles. According to the flight instructor, after the onset of engine power loss, he made a radio call to the DVT tower to advise them of the situation and his intention to return to the airport. He reported that the engine rpm decreased to about 600–700 rpm, accompanied by rough vibrations. He applied full throttle and leaned the mixture, which resulted in a slight increase in engine rpm. He then configured the airplane for best glide speed while continuing toward DVT. The flight instructor stated that during the return flight, the engine continued to produce reduced power. About 5 to 10 seconds before impact, the engine lost power completely. A review of video footage from a nearby residential home security camera captured the airplane approaching the accident site at a low altitude. The airplane subsequently entered a shallow right turn, followed by an increase in pitch, after which the right wing dropped. The airplane impacted the roof of a residence and subsequently struck an exterior wall of an adjacent second residence, before it came to rest in the second home's backyard. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted a residential neighborhood about 2 miles northeast of DVT. The fuselage, along with the left wing, came to rest on the ground at the base of a house in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude on a magnetic heading of approximately 052°. The right wing was separated and remained lodged within the roof of the first residence. Wreckage debris remained within about 20 ft of the wreckage, which included the right-wing flap, the nose landing gear, as well as fragments of fuselage skin. The engine and propeller assembly remained attached to the airframe and was compressed upward and to the right. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Initial climb
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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