What happened
On February 4, 2026, at approximately 1950 mountain standard time, a Socata TB21, registration N967WM, was destroyed in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
According to FAA ADS-B data, the aircraft departed from John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California, at approximately 1650 Pacific standard time. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions with a planned destination of Prescott Regional / Ernest Love Field Airport (PRC). The aircraft cruised at approximately 11,500 ft MSL for about two hours.
Air Traffic Control records show the pilot contacted the Prescott tower at approximately 1944 to announce intentions to land. The controller instructed the pilot to maintain an altitude of at least 6,5els00 ft MSL, pass over the airport, and enter the downwind for Runway 21L. After the pilot flew over the airport, the controller cancelled the altitude restriction and instructed the pilot to extend the downwind leg. At 1948:46, the controller cautioned the pilot regarding proximity to another aircraft on the final approach course.
At 1949:01, the pilot was cleared to land on Runway 21L while approximately 3 nautical miles northeast of the airport. As the pilot began the left turn to the base leg, ADS-B data indicated a rapid descent of approximately 800 feet and an airspeed increase of about 58 knots within a 16-second period. The aircraft disappeared from radar at 1950:45.
The aircraft came to rest inverted in an upward sloping, grassy pasture at an elevation of approximately 4,900 ft MSL. The wreckage was located about 3 miles northeast of the approach end of Runway 21L. The debris field included fragments from the left position light, separated wings, and a fuselage and empennage that remained attached. The engine was located approximately 60 feet from the fuselage. The propeller blades and hub were found near the initial impact point, with one blade exhibiting S-bending and the other bent outboard.