Accident Details
On May 10, 2014, about 1545 mountain standard time, a Cessna T207A, registration N7311U, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at Page Municipal Airport (PGA) in Page, Arizona. The flight, operated by American Aviation under Part 91, was a local sightseeing trip that had departed PGA about 20 minutes earlier. The pilot, an airline transport pilot, reported noticing a partial loss of engine power about 10 minutes into the flight. He turned back toward the airport and attempted troubleshooting, but the engine continued to surge and sputter, producing only partial power.
The pilot entered the downwind leg for runway 15 at about 1,000 feet above ground level. On final approach, the airplane experienced an extreme downdraft, and the pilot tried to maintain best glide airspeed. A strong gust of wind pitched the nose up about 15 degrees. The pilot pushed the yoke fully forward to counteract the gust, but then encountered a second downdraft, causing the airplane to impact the ground in a tail-low attitude and nose over. The pilot estimated wind from 170 to 220 degrees at 14 knots, gusting over 20 knots. Multiple witnesses observed the airplane descend rapidly into terrain in a normal landing attitude.
A company pilot who landed on the same runway about 8 minutes earlier reported encountering strong downdrafts and wind shear about 1/4 mile from the runway, with a descent rate exceeding 2,000 feet per minute observed on the vertical speed indicator. That pilot applied full power and regained the glide path, noting that without full engine power, reaching the runway would not have been possible.
Injuries and Occupants
The airline transport pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and one passenger was fatally injured.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 53, held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with multi-engine and single-engine land ratings. He had a first-class medical certificate issued March 3, 2014, with a limitation for near-vision glasses. He reported 6,850 total flight hours, with 45.8 hours in the accident make and model, including 40 hours in the previous 30 days and 2 hours in the previous 24 hours. He began employment with the company in March 2014 and completed initial training and a Part 135 check ride in March 2014.
Aircraft Information
The seven-seat, high-wing, fixed tricycle gear aircraft, serial number 20700395, was manufactured in 1977. It was powered by a Continental Motors TSIO-520-G (3) C M engine rated at 315 horsepower, equipped with a Hartzell PHC-C3YF-1RF variable pitch propeller. The forward two seats had lap belts and shoulder harnesses; the aft five seats had only lap belts. The most recent inspection was a 50-hour inspection completed on May 3, 2014, at a tachometer time of 3,647.4 hours and airframe total time of 14,933.0 hours. The engine had 5,092.9 hours total time with 475.1 hours since major overhaul. The aircraft was refueled with 25.8 gallons of 100LL fuel on the day of the accident, with company personnel reporting 30 gallons in the right tank and 10 in the left tank prior to departure.
Meteorological Conditions
The Page Municipal Airport ASOS reported at 1553: wind from 220 degrees at 6 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast ceiling at 11,000 feet, temperature 26°C, dew point -1°C, altimeter 29.60 inHg. Density altitude was calculated at about 6,932 feet; pressure altitude about 4,613 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Examination
The airplane impacted soft terrain about 390 feet from the approach end of runway 15, slightly left of the runway on a magnetic heading of about 142 degrees. It came to rest inverted on a heading of about 325 degrees. Two initial ground scars consistent with main landing gear were found about 160 feet north of the main wreckage. All major structural components were within about 30 feet. Both wings remained attached; the right wing leading edge was bent downward and buckled; the left wing appeared undamaged. The fuselage was mostly intact with some buckling. Flight control continuity was established; one elevator control cable was splayed. Cockpit switches: beacon and avionics on; throttle, mixture, and propeller in full forward; beacon and fuel pump circuit breakers tripped; cowl flaps closed; pitch trim neutral. Fuel removed: 14 gallons from right tank, 9 from left tank, free of debris. All seats except the number two seat remained attached to tracks; seat backs were displaced rearward. The fuel selector valve functioned normally. An engine test run at Continental Motors on July 22-23, 2014, showed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause
The source does not state a probable cause.