What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 10/04/2009 aircraft N7471P departed st. johns, AZ (sin) at approx. 0600 MST bound direct to aguila, AZ (27AZ). At approx 0725 MST albuquerque center lost radar contact at approx. 5700' around the castle creek wilderness area in the bradshaw mountain range. On 10/05/2009 fire fighters with the us forest service responded to reports of smoke in the area of the crash scene. The wreckage of N7471P was then discovered by the fire fighters and notification was made to the FAA. On 10/6/2009 an on-site investigation was performed by representatives from the NTSB, FAA, Piper aircraft, and Lycoming engines. It was determined that N7471P impacted a large rock, then a shear rock wall, at an elevation of 5580' at a heading of approximately 260°.
As the FAA filed it
ON 10/04/2009 AIRCRAFT N7471P DEPARTED ST. JOHNS, AZ (SIN) AT APPROX. 0600 MST BOUND DIRECT TO AGUILA, AZ (27AZ). AT APPROX 0725 MST ALBUQUERQUE CENTER LOST RADAR CONTACT AT APPROX. 5700' AROUND THE CASTLE CREEK WILDERNESS AREA IN THE BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN RANGE. ON 10/05/2009 FIRE FIGHTERS WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF SMOKE IN THE AREA OF THE CRASH SCENE. THE WRECKAGE OF N7471P WAS THEN DISCOVERED BY THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO THE FAA. ON 10/6/2009 AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NTSB, FAA, PIPER AIRCRAFT, AND LYCOMING ENGINES. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT N7471P IMPACTED A LARGE ROCK, THEN A SHEAR ROCK WALL, AT AN ELEVATION OF 5580' AT A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 260°.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.