# Accident 20200124001769A: Piper PA-28-140, Payson, AZ, January 24, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 24, 2020, 09:11 local time
- Place: Payson, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1589° N, 111.4939° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1589&lon=-111.4939&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3672K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3672K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 90 total, 30 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200124001769A

## Narrative

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

PIC MOVED FROM RENO, NV TO MESA, AZ 18 DAYS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT

0900 ON THE ACCIDENT DAY, REFUELED ACFT WITH 30 GALLONS OF 100LL AND DEPARTED PAN DIRECT TO FFZ.

PAX REQUESTED A DIVERSION TO FLY OVER A MOUNTAIN RANGE TO GET AN IDEA OF THE TERRAIN FOR FUTURE HIKING OPPORTUNITY.

SAW WILDLIFE (ELK) DURING DIVERSION, WHILE HEADING UP A MOUNTAINOUS CANYON.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE COURSE TO EXIT THE CANYON THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND DURING THE TURN.

POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT REVELED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE (INCLUDING EXHAUST SYSTEM) OR PROPELLER.

## 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 WPR20FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA079), Jan 24, 2020: Piper PA28 (N3672K), Payson, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly into a canyon with rising terrain, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control while maneuvering away from rising terrain.

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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