# Accident 20170922011659A: Cessna 172L, Perkinsville, AZ, September 22, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2017, 16:35 local time
- Place: Perkinsville, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8842° N, 112.1564° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8842&lon=-112.1564&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7070Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7070Q-2018-06-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172L (registry code 2072432, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 120 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170922011659A

## Narrative

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

N7070Q DEPARTED PRC AT ABOUT 1620 AND FLEW NORTH NORTHEAST TO THE VERDE RIVER.   RADAR TRACK SHOWS AIRCRAFT SLOWING DESCENDING TO ELEVATION OF THE TOP OF THE CANYON WITH LAST SIGNAL OVER THE RIVER, ABOUT 1½ MILE EAST OF ACCIDENT SITE WITH RIVER MEANDERING EAST TO WEST BETWEEN LAST SIGNAL AND ACCIDENT SIGHT.  AIRCRAFT IMPACTED CANYON WALL ABOUT 250 FEET BELOW TOP, WHERE THE RIVER AND CANYON MAKES A 180 DEGREE TURN.  WRECKAGE WAS INVERTED WITH NO HORIZONTAL IMPACT OR SPIN ROTATIONAL SCARRING.  OUTER HALF OF LEFT WING WAS FOLDED UNDER AIRCRAFT AND THE RIGHT WING WAS UNDAMAGED INDICATING SOME ROTATION AROUND THE NOSE TO TAIL AXIS WHILE FALLING STRAIT DOWN.  THERE IS SIGNIFICATE EVIDENCE OF FIRE FROM THE FUEL TANKS TOWARDS THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT, UPHILL, APPARENTLY PUSHED BY VERTICAL AIR MOVEMENT OR WIND BLOWING INTO CANYON WALL.

## 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 WPR17FA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA213), Sep 22, 2017: Cessna 172L (N7070Q), Perkinsville, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly into a canyon during wind conditions conducive to turbulence and downdrafts, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control while maneuvering in the canyon. Contributing to…

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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