Piper PA-32RT-300T N39520
24 May 1989 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 24 May 1989 at about 03:23 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N39520, operated by Wings Express Airline, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sky Harbor (PHX)
- Coordinates
- 33.4299, -112.0101
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T
- Registration
- N39520
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Wings Express Airline
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Chandler → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX89LA186
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BEHIND THE B-737 WHICH RESULTED IN THE INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A NIGHT FLIGHT AND WAS MAKING A VFR APPROACH AND LANDING. THE PILOT HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING A B737. ON THE BASE LEG, THE B737 WAS TURNING OFF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT WAS WARNED OF POSSIBLE WAKE TURBULENCE AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE THRESHOLD, THE PILOT FELT A LITTLE TURBULENCE AND INCREASED HIS AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED ALMOST 360 DEGREES. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO GET THE AIRPLANE UPRIGHT BEFORE IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD A VISUAL SIGHTING ON THE B737 THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE APPROACH AND ATTEMPTED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Columbus, Ohio, United States | Ferguson LEE, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1989 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States | Christian Chandler | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Addison, Texas, United States | Aviation Joint Ventures, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1990 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Glacier Island, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Aug 1988 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, United States | Laverne M. Goodreau | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 1988 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Edna, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 1989 | Cessna 180 | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | George Thomas | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1989 | Cessna 152 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Button Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1989 | Robinson R22 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Arizona Wing and Rotor | No injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 1989 | Roger Nelson AERONICA/T | Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Yuma, Arizona, United States | West Farm Air Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1989 | Rand Engineering KR-II | Eloy, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |