A routine training exercise turned into a terrifying morning for a north Phoenix neighborhood Wednesday when a small plane crashed into a residential area just east of Deer Valley Airport, injuring three people and leaving a trail of structural damage across two homes.
The incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. when the aircraft — a Piper PA-28, according to preliminary FAA records — took off from Deer Valley Airport and almost immediately ran into trouble. The plane developed a mechanical problem and attempted to return to the airfield, but never made it back. Instead, it came down in a neighborhood near Cave Creek and Deer Valley roads, clipping one house before coming to rest nose-first in the backyard of another.
A wing from the aircraft was left lodged on the roof of the first home it struck, aerial news footage confirmed.
Three people were taken to area hospitals: the student pilot and flight instructor who were aboard the aircraft, as well as a resident who was inside the first home when it was hit. Phoenix Fire Department Captain Todd Keller confirmed at the scene that all three were transported in stable condition — a fortunate outcome given the force of the impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the cause of the crash, which is standard procedure following any civilian aircraft incident. The National Transportation Safety Board may also become involved as the inquiry develops.
Deer Valley Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country and serves as a training hub for student pilots throughout the region — making incidents like Wednesday’s a rare but sobering reminder of the risks that accompany flight instruction in densely populated areas.
