# Accident 20210710010539A: Beech C90, Wikiup, AZ, July 10, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2021, 12:55 local time
- Place: Wikiup, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8247° N, 113.3914° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8247&lon=-113.3914&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3688P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3688P-2022-01-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C90 (registry code 1152913, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c90) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: U/A Canada PT6A series (registry code 61508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C90
- Reported engine: U/A CANADA PT6A-21
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,500 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210710010539A

## Narrative

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

ON SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021AT APPROXIMATELY 12:55 ARIZONA STANDARD TIME (AST), N3688P, A BEECH BE-90-C90 AIRCRAFT THAT WAS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE US FORESTRY SERVICE (USFS) AND UNDER OPERATIONAL CONTRACT CONTROL WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) PROVIDING COMMAND AND CONTROL FOR OTHER FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA OF THE CEDAR BASIN FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE ON AN AIR TACTICAL MISSION FOR THE CEDAR BASIN FIRE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTH FACE OF A 4,580? HIGH MOUNTAIN APPROXIMATELY 50? FROM THE TOP. THE MAIN SITE DEBRIS PATH EXTENDED FOR 576? ON A 107º MH. THE LEFT WING SEPARATED THE AIRCRAFT OUTBOARD OF THE NACELLE AT APPROXIMATELY WS99.61 AND WAS LOCATED 0.79 SM NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN SITE.  PORTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE MOSTLY CONSUMED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE LEFT WING FRACTURES WERE RETAINED AND WILL BE SEND TO THE NTSB LAB FOR A DETAIL EXAMINATION.  THERE WERE TWO SOULS ON-BOARD THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED FATAL.  NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE AFFECTED.  THE CURRENT WEATHER AROUND THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED NEAR PRESCOTT AIRPORT WERE THE WINDS AT 120 DEGREES AND AROUND 5 KNOTS WITH 10 STATUTE MILES OF VISIBILITY CLEAR OF CLOUDS WITH A TEMPERATURE AROUND 37 DEGREES CELSIUS AND A DEW POINT OF 6 DEGREES WITH AN ALTIMETER READING OF 30.13 INCHES OF MERCURY.  CURRENTLY AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION IS TAKING PLACE AND A STRUCTURAL TEAM IS BEING ESTABLISHED TO INCLUDE NTSB, FAA, DEPT. OF INTERIOR, USFS, BLM, AND AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS TO ASSESS THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER LOADS OF THE DAMAGED WING AREAS.  UPON ITS ASSESSMENT MAY FUEL FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE OTHER COMPANIES AND PERSONNEL.  IF NOT NEEDED THEN RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE BASED ON THE SAFETY OF THE FLYING PUBLIC TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MITIGATE CURRENT HAZARDS.

## 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 WPR21FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA266), Jul 10, 2021: Beech C90 (N3688P), Wikieup, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The failure and separation of the left wing’s outboard section due to a fatigue crack in the lower spar cap. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s decision to repair the wing spar instead…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.