History of Flight
On January 24, 2020, about 0911 mountain standard time, a Piper PA28-140, registration N3672K, was destroyed in an accident near Payson, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were on board; one passenger was fatally injured, and the pilot and the other passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was operated by the pilot as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that earlier that morning he had flown from Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona, to Payson Airport (PAN), where he refueled. He then departed for the return flight to FFZ. During the return, the pilot decided to fly over the mountains southwest of their position at about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) while the passengers spotted wildlife on the terrain below. The pilot stated the airplane was running well and that he did not remember anything else until waking up injured in a small creek at the accident site five hours later.
Radar flight track data showed the airplane depart PAN and fly to the Mazatzal Mountain Range. While maintaining about 1,000 ft agl above the mountainous terrain, the airplane made a 280° turning maneuver, then descended over and into a canyon with rising terrain. Approximately half a mile from the accident site, the flight track indicated the airplane turned left and the turn radius increased before the track data stopped. Through the canyon, groundspeed decreased from 88 to 65 knots, and altitude above ground dropped from about 1,000 ft to 330 ft agl near the accident site. Terrain elevation rose about 800 ft along the canyon. The last recorded data point was about 500 ft from the accident site.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane was destroyed by impact forces on steep, brush-covered terrain. All major structural components and primary flight controls were contained within a debris path approximately 145 ft long, oriented on a magnetic heading of about 35°, paralleling and uphill from a small stream. The outboard right wing sections exhibited leading-edge circular impact damage, similar in size to the large trees near the beginning of the debris path. This damage was found on the lower forward side of the wing near the leading edge, consistent with the airplane in a nose-up attitude at ground impact.
The propeller was located about halfway through the debris field; its blades showed leading-edge gouging and loss of blade material at the tips. The main wreckage, including the engine, was found on rocks along the stream. The cabin and forward fuselage were mostly consumed by postimpact fire. The left wing and empennage were partially attached to the main wreckage and sustained fire damage.
The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for examination. Flight control cable continuity was established through multiple overload fractures. The exhaust muff was disassembled and examined with no anomalies noted. The examination revealed no preexisting anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the passenger, performed by the Gila County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, Reno Nevada, listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing on the passenger’s specimens indicated carbon monoxide levels less than 10% saturation.