20140720013769A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172K · Littlefield, AZ · July 20, 2014

Date: July 20, 2014 · 18:30 local
Place: Littlefield, AZ
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N84754
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14FA302
Reported as: Cessna 172K
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N84754Registration cancelled Feb 6, 2017 · Cessna 172KS/N 17258603 · Built 1969 Airframe modelCessna 172K Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 20, 2014 at approximately 1820 pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 172, N84754, impacted terrain while flying through a canyon near Littlefield, AZ.

The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91.

The airplane was completely destroyed, the private pilot and one passenger appeared to have sustained fatal injuries caused by impact forces and post-crash fire.

The cross-country personal flight departed bountiful, Utah with a destination to mesquite, AZ.

Investigation at the crash site and reports from eye witnesses revealed the airplane appeared to have been flying below the canyon rim and impacted terrain in an inverted attitude due to possible high winds.

Examination at the crash site and after the aircraft was recovered revealed that the aircraft engine was making substantial power and all flight controls showed that they still had continuity.

Report to be amended pending review of pilot and aircraft records.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 20, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1820 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME (PDT), A CESSNA 172, N84754, IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE FLYING THROUGH A CANYON NEAR LITTLEFIELD, AZ.

THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91.

THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER APPEARED TO HAVE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES CAUSED BY IMPACT FORCES AND POST-CRASH FIRE.

THE CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED BOUNTIFUL, UTAH WITH A DESTINATION TO MESQUITE, AZ.

INVESTIGATION AT THE CRASH SITE AND REPORTS FROM EYE WITNESSES REVEALED THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN FLYING BELOW THE CANYON RIM AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE DUE TO POSSIBLE HIGH WINDS.

EXAMINATION AT THE CRASH SITE AND AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS MAKING SUBSTANTIAL POWER AND ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS SHOWED THAT THEY STILL HAD CONTINUITY.

REPORT TO BE AMENDED PENDING REVIEW OF PILOT AND AIRCRAFT RECORDS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR14FA302Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportLittlefield, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control when the airplane encountered high gusting wind while conducting low altitude flight in a narrow canyon, which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain.Jul 21, 2014 · Destroyed

Other reports on N84754 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19741231042679AIdling Engines · Avalon, CAGusting to 48K.Dec 31, 1974 · Substantial damage