Accident Overview
On May 23, 2011, at approximately 1520 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T207A, registration N803AN, impacted terrain during a visual flight rules (VFR) go-around from Runway 16 at Monument Valley Airport, Monument Valley, Utah. The commercial pilot and two of his passengers sustained serious injuries, and the other three passengers received minor injuries. The airplane, owned by Yaki Point, LLC and operated by Grand Canyon Airlines, sustained substantial damage. The flight was a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand sightseeing trip that had departed Grand Canyon Airport, Grand Canyon, Arizona, about one hour and forty minutes prior. A company VFR flight plan had been filed, and the flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.
Flight Sequence
The accident airplane was the last of four airplanes in an organized tour group. The lead airplane, a Cessna 208 Caravan, landed first. Its pilot reported strong gusty winds and downdrafts on final approach that required significant power to recover. After landing, the Caravan pilot described the winds on final as "weird" but not especially strong. The second airplane, the first Cessna T207, landed 3–4 minutes later; its pilot reported a smooth approach with little wind on short final. The third airplane landed about 3 minutes after the second; its pilot encountered bumpy conditions with variable winds and updrafts/downdrafts, and noted that after parking, the wind was from about 240 degrees at 25 knots with the windsock standing straight out.
Witnesses watching the accident airplane on final approach reported it appeared slightly high, with wings rocking as if correcting for variable winds. Two witnesses saw the airplane drop onto the runway, bounce hard, and then initiate a go-around with full power and a very high angle of attack. The airplane entered a left bank, began sinking, and impacted terrain in a left-wing-low attitude, then cartwheeled before stopping. All pilots agreed the engine sounded strong and smooth during the go-around and remained at high power until impact.
Passenger statements indicated the airplane was thrown by gusty winds on final, touched down somewhat sideways, then executed a go-around after ground contact. One passenger reported hearing a beeping sound, which seemed to get louder and faster during the left turn. Passengers described the turn as very tight, and stated the left wing tip struck the ground first.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The 34-year-old commercial pilot held Airplane Single-Engine Land and Instrument ratings, plus instructor ratings. He had 965 total flight hours, with 140 in the Cessna T207A (108 in the preceding 90 days). His last flight review was on March 10, 2011, and his most recent FAA second-class medical (with corrective lens limitation) was completed on March 29, 2011. The pilot had no recollection of the accident sequence.
The 1979 Cessna T207A was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO520M, 310-horsepower engine and a McCauley D3A34C401 controllable pitch propeller. The last annual/100-hour inspection was on April 9, 2011, at 13,417 airframe hours. The engine had 1,326 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airplane was below maximum gross weight and within center of gravity limits.
Meteorological Conditions
No weather recording equipment existed at Monument Valley Airport. The nearest reporting station, Kayenta, Arizona (20 miles south), reported wind from 150 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 30 knots around the time of the accident. The operator reported the temperature at Monument Valley as 26°C (68°F), barometric pressure 29.74 inHg, resulting in a density altitude of 6,790 feet. Wind at the airport varied widely, sometimes gusting to 25 knots from 240 degrees (80 degrees off runway heading) and at other times light to calm. Some airplanes encountered strong variable wind and moderate turbulence on final, while others did not. One pilot described the wind as very inconsistent, with calm periods followed by sudden strong gusts.
Airport Information
Monument Valley Airport sits on a flat desert plateau at 5,280 feet above sea level. It has one asphalt runway, 16/34, 4,100 feet long and 45 feet wide, with an uphill slope of 2.0% on Runway 16. About 400 feet off the south end of Runway 16, a nearly vertical sandstone rock wall towers about 700 feet above the runway elevation. Flight guides indicate that all landings should be on Runway 16 (toward the obstacle) and all takeoffs on Runway 34 (away). The Airguide Publications Airport Manual states that the cliff south is 1,000 feet above airport elevation, and warns: "Go-around not possible."
Wreckage and Impact Details
The left wing first contacted terrain 1,660 feet from the runway threshold on a heading of 140 degrees. Fragments of the red navigational light and landing light lens were found there. About 45 feet further on a heading of 090 degrees, the propeller and engine struck the ground, causing the engine to separate and the propeller to detach from the crankshaft flange. The airplane came to rest at coordinates 37° 01' 2.3" N, 110° 11' 55" W. The outboard half of the left wing was severely distorted; the lift strut remained attached but the aft spar separated from the fuselage spar carry-through. Left flap cables and aileron crossover cable showed overload separation. Flight control continuity was established elsewhere. Flaps were set at 10 degrees; throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were full forward. Main fuel tanks were intact with undetermined fuel. The right wing sustained moderate damage.
Propeller blades remained attached to the hub; one was at full flat pitch, bent aft, with chord-wise burnishing. Two blades had rotated about 90 degrees from flat pitch and showed similar burnishing. The propeller spinner was crushed aft into the hub with rotational scarring.
Injuries
- Pilot: serious injuries
- 2 passengers: serious injuries
- 3 passengers: minor injuries