What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
CE-172 with three occupants entered a narrow and steep up sloping canyon near Farmington Utah. At some point the pilot realized that the aircraft was not climbing sufficiently to clear terrain. He attempted a turn down canyon but didn't have the performance so he returned to facing up canyon. Aircraft impacted terrain on the edge of a dirt road then slid down a 50 degree slope about 50 feet. A post crash fire destroyed the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
CE-172 WITH THREE OCCUPANTS ENTERED A NARROW AND STEEP UP SLOPING CANYON NEAR FARMINGTON UTAH. AT SOME POINT THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING SUFFICIENTLY TO CLEAR TERRAIN. HE ATTEMPTED A TURN DOWN CANYON BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE PERFORMANCE SO HE RETURNED TO FACING UP CANYON. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN ON THE EDGE OF A DIRT ROAD THEN SLID DOWN A 50 DEGREE SLOPE ABOUT 50 FEET. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N52071 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.