Cessna 180 accident near Payson, AZ
On June 18, 2006, a Cessna 180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Payson, AZ. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 18, 2006
- Place
- Payson, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.166°N, 111.722°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060705X00867
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 18, 2006, about 0615 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N1535C, collided with terrain near Payson, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers were killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Pegasus Airpark, Queen Creek, Arizona, about 0555 en route to Payson. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed a friend of the accident pilot. The friend, who owned an airplane based at Pegasus, said that he talked to the accident pilot earlier in the week. The accident pilot indicated that he was planning to fly to Payson for breakfast on the day of the accident. The friend departed Pegasus about 0540 en route to a backcountry dirt airstrip called Red Creek that was west of Payson. He said that the accident pilot was very familiar with Red Creek. After departing Pegasus, the friend switched to a frequency that backcountry pilots frequently use. As he neared Red Creek, he established radio contact with the accident pilot. The friend landed at Red Creek, shut down, and let his passenger go to a sign-in log on the airstrip. He observed the accident airplane south of the airstrip. It flew over the airstrip about 150 feet above ground level (agl), but he did not continue to look at it, and focused his attention on inspecting his airplane. He was aware of the engine sounds, but they
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during a low level flyby maneuver. A factor was glare from the sun and shadows created by the mountainous terrain.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
