What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 12/13/2019 a rancher tending cattle found the wreckage of an aircraft. On 12/15/2019 the girlfriend of the pilot reported him missing saying that he had departed flagstaff on 12/08/2019 heading to dvt. Wittiness driving back from flagstaff photographed a moony aircraft flying low over I-17 in conditions of low visibility. Radar information showed N5557Q flying along I-17 in same area and time as witness photo.
From ground scaring initial impact appeared to be slightly left wing low and separating propeller at that point with crankshaft showing 45 degree shear lips. Second point of impact was about 100 yards due east of initial impact. Wreckage was inverted lengthwise with post crash fire consuming much of the fuselage.
Control continuity was partially confirmed onsite and completed at salvage yard.
As the FAA filed it
ON 12/13/2019 A RANCHER TENDING CATTLE FOUND THE WRECKAGE OF AN AIRCRAFT. ON 12/15/2019 THE GIRLFRIEND OF THE PILOT REPORTED HIM MISSING SAYING THAT HE HAD DEPARTED FLAGSTAFF ON 12/08/2019 HEADING TO DVT. WITTINESS DRIVING BACK FROM FLAGSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHED A MOONY AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW OVER I-17 IN CONDITIONS OF LOW VISIBILITY. RADAR INFORMATION SHOWED N5557Q FLYING ALONG I-17 IN SAME AREA AND TIME AS WITNESS PHOTO.
FROM GROUND SCARING INITIAL IMPACT APPEARED TO BE SLIGHTLY LEFT WING LOW AND SEPARATING PROPELLER AT THAT POINT WITH CRANKSHAFT SHOWING 45 DEGREE SHEAR LIPS. SECOND POINT OF IMPACT WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS DUE EAST OF INITIAL IMPACT. WRECKAGE WAS INVERTED LENGTHWISE WITH POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMING MUCH OF THE FUSELAGE.
CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS PARTIALLY CONFIRMED ONSITE AND COMPLETED AT SALVAGE YARD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.