Cessna T207A N803AN

Summary

On 23 May 2011 at about 21:20 local time, a Cessna T207A registered N803AN, operated by Grand Canyon Airlines, was involved in an accident near Monument Valley, Utah, United States. 6 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2011 at 21:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Monument Valley, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Monument Valley (UT25)

Coordinates

37.0167, -110.2069

Aircraft

Cessna T207A

Registration

N803AN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grand Canyon Airlines

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon → Monument Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA232

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to initiate a go-around after a bounced landing at an airport where go-arounds were not advised and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the airplane's operator, the airplane was part of a flight of four airplanes that were taking an organized tour group of revenue passengers on a sightseeing tour of southern Utah. While operating in a high density altitude environment, the pilot was flying into an airport that had a 1,000-foot cliff about 400 feet from the end of the runway he was landing on. Because of the presence of the cliff, the Airguide Publications Airport Manual stated that all landings should be made on the runway that was headed toward the cliff and that all takeoffs should be made on the runway that was headed away from the cliff. The manual also stated that a go-around during landing was not possible. During his approach, the pilot encountered a variable wind and downdrafts. During the landing flare, the airplane dropped onto the runway hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot then immediately initiated a go-around and began a turn away from the runway heading. While in the turn, he was most likely unable to maintain sufficient airspeed, and the airplane entered a stall/mush condition and descended into the ground. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.