1992-07-19: Piper PA-22-150 — Nerguizian, Berj — Tucson, AZ

Casualties unknown • Tucson, AZ, US

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE AREA OF THE FORCED LANDING WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN TUCSON, ARIZONA, AND REFUELING THE AIRCRAFT TO ITS 36 GALLON CAPACITY, THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON HIS FINAL LEG HOME. HE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 6000 FEET MSL APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT PINAL AIRPARK, ARIZONA, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 31 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF TUCSON, BUT COLLIDED WITH THE ROUGH TERRAIN ABOUT 350 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO FAA INSPECTORS NO OBVIOUS FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ENGINE WERE NOTED DURING THEIR ON SCENE INVESTIGATION.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-07-19 Piper PA-22-150 accident near Tucson, AZ?

AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN TUCSON, ARIZONA, AND REFUELING THE AIRCRAFT TO ITS 36 GALLON CAPACITY, THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON HIS FINAL LEG HOME. HE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 6000 FEET MSL APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT PINAL AIRPARK, ARIZONA, LOCATED…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-07-19 involved a Piper PA-22-150, registration N3406Z, operated by Nerguizian, Berj, at Tucson, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE AREA OF THE FORCED LANDING WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X15201. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…