Accident Details
A pilot landed at Payson, ate breakfast, refueled the airplane, and departed. A witness observed nothing unusual as the airplane climbed. The aircraft was not identified on radar, and there were no witnesses to the accident. The wreckage was discovered in a ravine near the top of a box canyon, approximately 8.5 miles southwest of Payson.
Examination Findings
Investigators found evidence that the airplane crashed while descending in a nose-low attitude. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was discovered. The propeller blades were deformed with S-shaped bends, leading edge gouges, and chord-wise scratches. The evidence indicated the airplane was loaded at or near its maximum gross weight limit and that it had stalled.
Toxicology Results
Toxicology tests of the pilot's blood revealed the presence of 0.065 ug/g of dihydrocodeine and 25 ug/g of salicylate (aspirin). Dihydrocodeine and salicylate were also detected in the pilot's urine.