Piper PA-28-181 N2190X accident near Monticello, Utah

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude over a sparsely populated area with the intention of looking for wildlife. Several witnesses located near the accident site reported observing the accident airplane flying around the vicinity of the accident site at a low altitude. One witness reported that he observed an airplane circling in the vicinity of the accident site with the wings "completely up and down" followed by the airplane leveling off at an "extremely low altitude" before he lost sight of the airplane below the horizon. Wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain within an open plowed field in a right wing low attitude. The wreckage debris path was about 190 feet. All major components of the airplane were located within the debris path. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08FA174 for the full record.