What happened
On a scheduled VFR commuter flight bound for Phoenix, a Cessna 404 operated by Scenic Airlines experienced a fatal accident during the departure phase. Shortly after departing from Grand Canyon National Park Airport at 17:02, the aircraft went down roughly three miles south of runway 21.
The aircraft traveled on a magnetic heading of 165°, striking a heavily forested area. The impact and subsequent intense fire completely destroyed the plane. The accident resulted in seven fatalities, as the pilot and six passengers died at the scene, while one passenger succumbed to thermal injuries five days after the crash.
Findings
Investigations determined that the aircraft suffered a significant loss of power from its left engine during the critical moments of takeoff. This mechanical failure prevented the aircraft from maintaining an adequate climb rate. The investigation concluded that the pilot did not sufficiently adjust the aircraft's configuration to minimize drag, which further compromised the plane's ability to fly on a single engine.
The underlying cause of the power loss was identified as a seized turbocharger. This seizure was triggered by the progressive failure of turbine wheel blades, which had been caused by the ingestion of foreign objects. This damage had occurred prior to the flight but remained undetected during an engine maintenance inspection performed four days before the accident.