Piper PA28 N3672K accident near Payson, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to fly into a canyon with rising terrain, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control while maneuvering away from rising terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot and passengers decided to fly over the nearby mountains so the passengers could spot wildlife on the terrain below. The pilot and surviving passenger recalled the airplane running well as they made a turn towards the mountains, but neither reported any memories of the flight after that point.

Radar flight track data showed the airplane depart and fly to the mountains while maintaining an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level. The airplane completed a turning maneuver and descended into a canyon. Near the accident site, the flight track was consistent with the pilot maneuvering to avoid rising terrain. The accident site debris field was in a down-canyon direction.

Examination of the wreckage and the accident site revealed that the airplane was in a nose-high attitude at the time of impact and possibly nearing the stall speed of the airplane. The propeller damage suggests that the engine was producing power at the time of impact. The examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR20FA079 for the full record.