Chandler Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85224
Friday, October 5, 2012 14:07 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During instructional flights with a flight instructor and a student pilot on board each airplane, a Piper Warrior and a Piper Arrow collided in midair during day visual meteorological conditions. The instructors reported that their students were simulating instrument conditions and were wearing view-limiting devices as they practiced instrument maneuvers. Both flight instructors reported that they saw the other airplane only moments before the collision and were not aware of other aircraft in the area. Neither airplane was using flight following services nor did they have any radar guidance during the flight. A review of recorded radar data for the area depicted two targets on a southwesterly heading, one ahead of the other. The targets were spaced about 2 miles apart and both were at 4,000 feet mean sea level. The rear target, the Arrow, changed its southwesterly heading to a westerly heading, and shortly after, the target identified as the Warrior started a wide right turn. Both airplanes were flying toward each other when the Warrior’s right wing and the Arrow’s left wing collided. After the collision, both airplanes subsequently made uneventful landings.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both flight instructors to see and avoid the other airplane while providing instrument flight training, which resulted in a midair collision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1407
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Chandler
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85224
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 330611N
Event Location Longitude 1120315W
Event Location Airport Chandler Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CHD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 15
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1243
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1417 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID KCHD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1243
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCHD 052117Z VRB03KT 35SM SCT200 33/03 A2991 RMK A
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31813
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2013 1:37PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N8115Q N4184M
NTSB Number WPR13LA004A WPR13LA004B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161 PA-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8016121 2844062
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 29 2012 12:00AM Aug 29 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2027 2144
Airframe Hours 3931 10734
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TRIUMPH AVIATION LLC AIRCRAFT GUARANTY HOLDINGS & TRUST LLC TRUSTEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS ONALASKA
Aircraft Owner State OH TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43235-7217 77360-2549
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name Chandler Air Service AIRCRAFT GUARANTY HOLDINGS & TRUST LLC TRUSTEE
Operator Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No No
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City Chandler Mesa
Operator State AZ AZ
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 85286 85215
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
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) Instructional Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code CHD FFZ
Departure City Chander Mesa
Departure State AZ AZ
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1330 1230
Departure Time Zone MST MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CHD FFZ
Destination City Chander Mesa
Destination State AZ AZ
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2013 1:26PM Sep 5 2013 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record stam stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location -- --
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --