Ameriflight PA31 Accident in AZ
12-20-2012, 08:37 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
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Posts: 2,300
Ameriflight PA31 Accident in AZ
Kathryn's Report: Piper PA-31-350, N62959, Ameriflight 3853: Aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain, the 1 person on board was fatally injured, subject of an alert notice, wreckage located near Payson, Arizona
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012
Piper PA-31-350, N62959, Ameriflight 3853: Aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain, the 1 person on board was fatally injured, subject of an alert notice, wreckage located near Payson, Arizona
Officials say a man trying to avoid a winter storm near Payson Tuesday night died when his plane crashed into the Mazatzal Mountains south of town.
David Kappes, 28, of Mesa, had planned to fly from Show Low to Payson, but radioed air traffic controllers that he was diverting to Phoenix due to inclement weather, said Ian Gregor, Federal Aviation Administration public affairs manager.
Air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with the twin-engine Piper Navajo around 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter spotted a plane wreckage northwest of the Barnhardt Trailhead, at about 7,000 feet.
Two Gila County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dropped off by helicopter below the site and hiked up to the large debris field.
Deputies dug through the snow and located pieces of the aircraft and paperwork, tentatively confirming it was Kappes’ plane. One body was located in the wreckage and has been tentatively identified as the pilot, Kappes.
The sheriff’s office is waiting on DNA testing to make an official confirmation, said Lt. Tim Scott.
The FAA and NTSB are sending investigators to the site.
Scott said the crash site is on the side of the mountain, south of North Peak. He said it is not visible from the road because it is behind a ridge.
This is the second fatal plane crash this year in Rim Country.
In September, three people died when their Piper aircraft crashed into a canyon wall near Strawberry. The group, which included a Dutch student pilot, had planned to fly from Mesa to Winslow with an emergency practice diversion to Payson, according to a preliminary report from the FAA.
The student pilot, certified flight instructor and private pilot-rated passenger died when the plane crashed in the remote and rugged Calf Pen Canyon.
Earlier this month, three people survived a helicopter accident on Roosevelt Lake. The group was on a sightseeing tour of the area Dec. 7 when the copter crashed into the lake. Nearby boaters pulled the passengers from the water.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 62959 Make/Model: PA31 Description: PA-31/31P Navajo, Navajo Chieftain, Chie
Date: 12/19/2012 Time: 0125
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: PAYSON State: AZ Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N62959 AMERIFLIGHT 3853 PIPER PA 31 CRASHED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE 1
PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, SUBJECT OF AN ALERT NOTICE, WRECKAGE
LOCATED NEAR PAYSON, AZ
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 12/20/2012
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012
Piper PA-31-350, N62959, Ameriflight 3853: Aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain, the 1 person on board was fatally injured, subject of an alert notice, wreckage located near Payson, Arizona
Officials say a man trying to avoid a winter storm near Payson Tuesday night died when his plane crashed into the Mazatzal Mountains south of town.
David Kappes, 28, of Mesa, had planned to fly from Show Low to Payson, but radioed air traffic controllers that he was diverting to Phoenix due to inclement weather, said Ian Gregor, Federal Aviation Administration public affairs manager.
Air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with the twin-engine Piper Navajo around 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter spotted a plane wreckage northwest of the Barnhardt Trailhead, at about 7,000 feet.
Two Gila County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dropped off by helicopter below the site and hiked up to the large debris field.
Deputies dug through the snow and located pieces of the aircraft and paperwork, tentatively confirming it was Kappes’ plane. One body was located in the wreckage and has been tentatively identified as the pilot, Kappes.
The sheriff’s office is waiting on DNA testing to make an official confirmation, said Lt. Tim Scott.
The FAA and NTSB are sending investigators to the site.
Scott said the crash site is on the side of the mountain, south of North Peak. He said it is not visible from the road because it is behind a ridge.
This is the second fatal plane crash this year in Rim Country.
In September, three people died when their Piper aircraft crashed into a canyon wall near Strawberry. The group, which included a Dutch student pilot, had planned to fly from Mesa to Winslow with an emergency practice diversion to Payson, according to a preliminary report from the FAA.
The student pilot, certified flight instructor and private pilot-rated passenger died when the plane crashed in the remote and rugged Calf Pen Canyon.
Earlier this month, three people survived a helicopter accident on Roosevelt Lake. The group was on a sightseeing tour of the area Dec. 7 when the copter crashed into the lake. Nearby boaters pulled the passengers from the water.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 62959 Make/Model: PA31 Description: PA-31/31P Navajo, Navajo Chieftain, Chie
Date: 12/19/2012 Time: 0125
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: PAYSON State: AZ Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N62959 AMERIFLIGHT 3853 PIPER PA 31 CRASHED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE 1
PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, SUBJECT OF AN ALERT NOTICE, WRECKAGE
LOCATED NEAR PAYSON, AZ
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 12/20/2012
Last edited by TheFly; 12-20-2012 at 08:39 AM. Reason: Text added
12-20-2012, 08:52 AM
#4
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Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 'Bus Driver Right Seat
Posts: 523
Ameriflight PA31 Accident
Two days ago we had accident involving one of our Piper PA31s operating as AMF3853 from Holbrook,AZ to Phoenix,AZ. Unfortunately, the Captain didn't survive. Initial reports from our company are saying that weather was a possible factor.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...oday-abrk.html
Blue skies and tailwinds to a fallen aviator.
"OOTSK"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...oday-abrk.html
Blue skies and tailwinds to a fallen aviator.
"OOTSK"
12-20-2012, 03:12 PM
#8
Works harder not smarter
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 142
Always a risk and always a reality to those who know about building hours. Experience 2nd to none when you fly single pilot IFR. You will always be apart of the elite. We all knew it could happen to us. A salut to you my friend, a common passion/sacrifice to do what you loved. More the most. Fly west into the sunset good man.
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