# Accident 20140720013029A: Cessna 182L, Sedona, AZ, July 20, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2014, 15:30 local time
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9075° N, 111.8622° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9075&lon=-111.8622&mi=10
- Aircraft: N42474, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42474-2015-03-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182L (registry code 2072726, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 170 total, 35 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA303) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140720013029A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT AN ALTITUDE OF 4800 FEET IN WEST FORK OF FAY CANYON AFTER FLYING OVER BEAR MOUNTAIN THAT PEAKS AT 6506 FEET.  THE HORIZONTAL DISTANCE FROM THE CANYON?S EDGE BY BEAR MOUNTAIN WHICH IS 6000 FEET ELEVATION, TO THE CRASH SITE IS ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE.

THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN 7738DA @ 4800 ASL AND 9,675DA @ 6,400 ASL.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE LEFT FLAGSTAFF ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WITH FOUR OCCUPANTS AND FULL FUEL.

POST IMPACT FIRE WAS BURN UP MOST OF THE NON-STEEL PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE FIRST IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WAS A TREE ABOUT 18-INCHES IN DIAMETER THAT WAS UPROOTED. THE DEBRIS PATH WAS ABOUT 100 FEET IN LENGTH AND ABOUT 40 FEET WIDE AND ON A 90 DEGREE MAGNETIC HEADING. THE PROXIMITY OF UNDAMAGED TREES NEAR THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A RELATIVELY STEEP ANGLE OF DECENT.  A WITTNESS WHO DID NOT SEE THE AIRCRAFT HEARD THE ENGINE ACCELERATE THEN GET QUIET AND ACCELERATE AGAIN, JUST PRIOR TO HEARING AN EXPLOSION.

THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY FAILURES OF FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS OR ENGINE.

## 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 WPR14FA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA303), Jul 20, 2014: Cessna 182L (N42474), Sedona, AZ, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance the airplane’s critical angle-of attack while maneuvering through a canyon in high-density altitude conditions at low altitude,…

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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