Avra Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85713
Saturday, June 27, 1987 15:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT THE END OF A BUSINESS FLT, THE PLT EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT DOWN AND LOCKED. THE PLT ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY LANDING GEAR EXTENSION WHICH STILL INDICATED IT WAS NOT DOWN. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PLT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN IN HOPES THAT IF THE GEAR DID COLLAPSE HE MAY BE ABLE TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE ACFT'S SINK RATE INCREASED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN HALF A MILE FROM THE ARPT. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City TUCSON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85713
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AVRA VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E14
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2025
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 128
Weather Observation Facility ID TUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 41
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 658
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33826
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4364X
NTSB Number LAX87LA245
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R7680013
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EZ FLIGHTS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7644 W. BLUEFIELD
Aircraft Owner City PEORIA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85345
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNIVERSE AIR CARGO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11800 WEST AVRA VALLEY
Operator City MARANA
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85653
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code E14
Departure City TUCSON
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDL
Destination City SCOTTSDALE
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --