Piper PA-24 N6304P

Summary

On 17 August 2009 at about 21:50 local time, a Piper PA-24 registered N6304P, operated by Thomas Hilton Armor Trustee, was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2009 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC)

Coordinates

34.6397, -112.4097

Aircraft

Piper PA-24

Registration

N6304P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Hilton Armor Trustee

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09FA400

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering to return to the runway at a high density altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot told the air traffic controller that he needed to return to the airport but did not say what the issue was. The controller approved the pilot’s request; there were no further communications. Several witnesses at different locations around the accident area reported watching the airplane flying slowly, low above the runway, in a relatively steep nose-up pitch attitude before making a left turn that increased in bank angle before the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postcrash fire largely consumed the airplane; however, postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be about 7,900 feet. High density altitude adversely affects airplane climb performance and requires pilot vigilance to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff and climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.