Pilot Debrief

PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 near Mesa, AZ — 2025-11-17

Investigation ongoingWPR26LA045
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Date
2025-11-17
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
Airport
FFZ
Aircraft
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181
Registration
N4402N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
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 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.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Approach-VFR pattern base
View NTSB preliminary report

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