New Report Reveals How Training Flight Ended in Emergency Landing in Mesa

NTSB Preliminary Report

By: Ciara Perez | Investigative Journalist | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published November 28th, 2025

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NTSB: Engine Failure Forced Instructor to Make Emergency Landing Near Mesa Canal

MESA, AZ — New details have been released about the small aircraft that made an emergency landing near a Mesa canal earlier this month. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the flight instructor and student on board the Piper PA-28-181 handled a sudden loss of engine power before safely bringing the plane down on a gravel road.

The incident happened on the morning of November 17, 2025, during what was supposed to be a routine training flight out of Falcon Field Airport. After finishing multiple touch-and-go landings, the instructor and student were flying in the traffic pattern for runway 4L when something went wrong.

As they turned onto the base leg to set up for another landing, the instructor said the plane suddenly lost power without warning. He tried everything he could—adjusting the mixture, moving the throttle—but the engine wouldn’t come back.

Realizing they weren’t going to make it back to the runway, the instructor quickly scanned the area for any place to put the plane down. With few options available, he aimed for a gravel road alongside a water canal.

Plane Crash / iSkyNews.com Drone Response Team (DRT)

The landing itself was successful, but the aircraft rolled about 100 yards before the right wing struck a cinder block fence, bringing the plane to a stop. Remarkably, both the instructor and student walked away without injuries.

The aircraft, however, sustained heavy damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the left stabilizer. No fire occurred, and weather conditions at the time were calm with clear visibility.

The NTSB notes that the cause of the engine failure is still unknown. The aircraft has been moved to a secure location where investigators will conduct a closer inspection. Several FAA aviation safety inspectors and engine specialists are involved in the ongoing review.

This early report is only preliminary and may change as the investigation continues.

Read the original iSkyNews.com story here:
https://www.iskynews.com/2025/11/small-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing.html

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