20220813008079A

On August 13, 2022, at approximately 2219 UTC (1619 MST), a Cessna/textron aviation CE-T207A, operated under part 91.147/136 air tour was part of a five aircraft air tour flight that departed Page municipal airport (kpga) in Page, AZ. The accident aircraft experienced an unknown loss of engine power during the return leg of the air tour and made a water ditching into lake powell near gregory butte, approximately 13 miles from kpga. The pilot of the accident aircraft made a mayday radio call prior to the ditching. The aircraft came to rest approximately 25 yards from the shoreline. An evacuation of the aircraft was initiated after the ditching, however two of the six passengers remained in the aircraft and were fatally injured. The remaining four passengers and pilot were rescued by private boaters in the area.

The pilot and the four passengers that did exit the aircraft were treated by medical responders. Two passengers with serious injuries were transported by helicopter to a trauma center in st. george, Utah and the pilot and remaining two passengers with minor injuries were transported by helicopter and ground ambulance to a hospital in Page, Arizona.

On August 14, 2022, the national park service (nps) was able to locate the submerged aircraft in an area near where witnesses stated it went into the water. The nps confirmed the aircraft location using sonar equipment.

On August 15, 2022, a remotely operated vehicle (rov) was used to determine the aircraft was in an upright position on a sloped ledge of the reservoir at a depth of approximately eighty (80) feet.

On August 16, 2022, the Utah department of public safety dive team recovered the bodies of the two passengers. They were found inside the aircraft, still secured by their seatbelts. The passengers were found in seat numbers 2 and 4. The bodies were turned over to the Utah office of the medical examiner and transported to taylorsville, Utah for forensic examination.

A specialized recovery company is preparing to recover the aircraft with the recovery planned for the near future.

Upon recovery, the aircraft will be transported to a facility in phoenix, Arizona for examination and teardown.

On September 22, 2022, the aircraft was recovered by divers and salvage crew from lake powell. The external and internal condition of the aircraft was documented and photographed. The aircraft was disassembled and barged to a trailer located at wahweap marina.

On October 16, 2022, the aircraft, engine, engine components and aircraft systems were examined by NTSB and FAA investigators at a secured storage facility in phoenix, AZ. Based on the engine teardown and examination of the engine components, the engine failure could not be determined conclusively. The fuel system was examined, but water had contaminated evidence. The aircraft wing flaps and flap selector knob was found to be in the retracted "up" position. There was evidence to the aircraft lower fuselage structure that the aircraft contacted the wated at a high rate of speed. Two passenger cabin seats (#4 and #5) were found to be dislocated from their respective seat track rails as a result of the impact with the water. Other aircraft structural damage was the result of the aircraft striking submerged topography during sinking.

The on-site investigation findings and aircraft wreckage examination determined that an un-specified, non-mechanical engine failure occurred, and an emergency water ditching was performed in which the aircraft wing flaps were found to be in the retracted/up position upon contact with the water. The accident aircraft wing flap configuration (retracted/up) is contrary to the Cessna model T207A pilots operating handbook (rev. 8/15/1980) (Page 3-5, section 3 – emergency procedures – ditching).

On 3/27/2023, the accident pilot was counseled in regard to the ditching and flap configuration. The pilot was assigned four FAA online safety courses to be completed within ten (10) days.