LAX94FA360

Witnesses observed the aircraft for about 5 to 10 seconds flying at a low altitude, dipping up and down. Next, they saw the aircraft go straight into the ground, followed by a fire. Family members believed the pilot was scouting for elk. A rifle was located in the aircraft behind the pilot's seat. Examination of the aircraft found no evidence of an aircraft or engine malfunction.

On September 11, 1994, at 1820 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-135, N2207A, crashed about 35 miles south of Winslow, Arizona. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight from Flagstaff to Taylor, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot, and was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1717 hours. According to a family member, he believed the pilot was scouting for elk in the area.

The airplane was observed by a couple driving along the road, who told Coconino County Sheriff's Department investigators that they observed the airplane for about 5 to 10 seconds at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground that "kept dipping." They saw the airplane "go straight down into the trees", and moments later, they observed smoke. They located the plane engulfed in flames a short distance off the road. They also stated that they were driving with their windows up and could not hear the airplane engine.

Personnel Information

The pilot held a commercial pilot flight certificate with an airplane single and multi-engine land rating. He was also a certificated flight instructor and had about 832 total flight hours based on the last entry in the pilot's logbook. The recency of his experience was not determined.

Wreckage and Impact Information

The accident site is located at 6,500 feet mean sea level(msl), approximately 35 miles south of Winslow. Numerous cedar trees surrounded the crash site. Ground scars and wreckage examination indicated the airplane struck the ground in a westerly direction at a 45-degree nose-down attitude with its wings rotating to the left about its vertical axis. The post crash ground fire destroyed most of the aircraft.

Flight control continuity was established up to the cockpit area. The position of the flaps was not determined due to the fire damage. All major aircraft components were accounted for at the accident site.

Examination of the engine in Phoenix, Arizona, revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

A 30-30 caliber rifle, along with numerous shells, was located in the aircraft. The rifle was found along the left side of the aircraft behind the pilot's seat with the barrel pointing toward the rear. Sheriff deputies found several spent shell casings that appeared to have been expended as a result of the fire.

Medical and Pathological Information

The autopsy was performed by the Coconino County Coroners Office, and there was no evidence of a pilot incapacitation prior to the accident.

The toxicological report revealed no evidence of cyanide, ethanol, or drugs detected in the blood or urine samples.

Additional Information

The aircraft wreckage was verbally released on September 12, 1995, to Mr. Rex Thompson of Claimtx Corporation of Scottsdale, Arizona.