# Accident 20131004020429A: Cessna 340A, Paulden, AZ, October 4, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 2013, 12:25 local time
- Place: Paulden, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8653° N, 112.5228° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8653&lon=-112.5228&mi=10
- Aircraft: N312GC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N312GC-2014-11-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 340A (registry code 2076405, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131004020429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 90? (APPROX.) TALL RADIO TOWER THAT WAS LOCATED AT A SHOOTING RANGE LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF PAULDEN, AZ. BASE OF THE TOWER WAS TRIANGULAR SHAPED WITH EACH SIDE BEING APPROXIMATELY 2? IN LENGTH. APPROXIMATELY 10? OF THE TOWER WAS SHEARED OFF BY THE AIRCRAFT?S RIGHT WING. AIRCRAFT THEN MADE IMPACT WITH TRESS / GROUND APPROXIMATELY 250 YARDS SOUTHWEST OF THE TOWER. A POST-CRASH FIRE THEN OCCURRED.

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE ONE LOW LEVEL PASS OVER THE RANGE AND THEN WHEN IT CAME AROUND FOR A SECOND PASS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RADIO TOWER. WITNESSES STATED THAT AIRCRAFT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A MALFUNCTION AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE REVEALED NOTHING TO SUPPORT THAT A MECHANICAL FAILURE HAD OCCURRED.

WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CLEAR WITH WINDS FROM 5 TO 8 KTS N TO NNE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR14LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA005), Oct 4, 2013: Cessna 340A (N312GC), Paulden, AZ, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear a radio tower while maneuvering at low altitude and his decision to make a high-speed, low pass over the gun club.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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