Piper PA-28-180 N33094

Summary

On 30 August 2023 at about 15:42 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N33094 was involved in an accident near Kanab, Utah, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 2023 at 15:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Kanab, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Kanab Muni (KNB)

Coordinates

37.0256, -112.5245

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N33094

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kanab → Hurricane

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA329

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to take off in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed from a local airport with the airplane 50 lbs under its maximum gross weight of 2,500 pounds. During takeoff, the pilot selected two notches of flaps and began the takeoff roll with full power. The airplane lifted off but would not gain airspeed. The pilot retracted the flaps one notch at a time and the airplane began to descend. The pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed to clear a set of powerlines; after he pulled up to clear the powerlines, the airplane impacted a road just beyond the airport perimeter, breaching a fence and coming to rest in a hay field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was run on a test stand and ran smoothly during the operational check, with no unusual indications. Audio provided from a nearby surveillance camera confirmed the engine was developing power until shortly before the crash. The reason for a reduction of power prior to impact could not be determined. The airplane was able to become airborne in ground effect; however, once the airplane left ground effect, the high density altitude, greater induced drag, and reduction of flaps likely rendered the airplane incapable of sustaining flight outside of ground effect.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.