Piper PA-28-181 accident near Anthem, AZ
On May 31, 2013, a Piper PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Anthem, AZ. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 31, 2013
- Place
- Anthem, AZ
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.865°N, 112.201°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130531X43432
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 31, 2013, at 1003 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N327PA, and a Cessna 172S, N2459K, collided in-flight about 3 miles west of Anthem, Arizona. Both certified flight instructors (CFI's) occupying the Piper were fatally injured; the CFI and student pilot occupying the Cessna were also fatally injured. Both airplanes impacted desert terrain in the vicinity of the collision; the Piper was substantially damaged and the Cessna was destroyed. The Piper was registered to Bird Acquisition LLC and operated by TransPac Academy; the Cessna was registered to Westwind Leasing LLC and operated as a rental airplane. Both airplanes were operated as instructional flights under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and both airplanes had company flight plans. The Cessna departed Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, at 0930, and the Piper departed the same airport at 0917. Radar data shows two tracks operating VFR (visual flight rules) about 1 mile apart. The western track was operating at 2,500 msl and 106 knots ground speed, as recorded by the radar playback. The eastern track was operating at 2,600 feet msl and 92 knots ground speed as recorded by the radar playback. The western track was on a northerly heading and made a 180-degree right turn to a southerly heading. The eastern track was also on a northerly heading and made a left turn to a southwesterly heading. Both airplanes executed their turn simultaneously. Shortly after each target completed its turn the paths of both
Probable cause
The failure of the pilots in both aircraft to maintain adequate visual lookout in a known training area where multiple aircraft frequently operated, which resulted in a midair collision.
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 · Piper 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.
