Cottonwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottonwood, Arizona 86326
Tuesady, September 4, 2001 20:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on approach, at night, the airplane collided with 60-foot power lines approximately 4 miles from the airport. The airplane came to rest inverted. The flight had departed from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was destined for Phoenix, Arizona. The airport elevation was 3,550 feet msl, with a traffic pattern altitude of 4,350 feet (800 feet agl). The airplane's altimeter read 2,850 feet. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude and then a dust cloud. They also observed fuel flowing out of the engine. Recovery personnel noted about 12 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left wing. No fuel was recovered from the right wing because it had ruptured. Fuel was observed and smelled on the ground around the accident site. Unsuccessful attempts were made to obtain information from the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain a proper descent rate, as well as prematurely starting his decent during nighttime operations, subsequently colliding with 60-foot power lines 4 miles from the airport.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2040
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Cottonwood
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86326
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport COTTONWOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 140
Airport Elevation 3550
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5045
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12691
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 25 2003 9:38AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-SDL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3250S
NTSB Number LAX01LA300
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 182-55750
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 24 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 3011
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Santa Fe Jet Center
Aircraft Owner Street Address 445 Airport Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Santa Fe
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87505
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Arrow Aviation, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1777 Aviation Way
Operator City Colorado Springs
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80916
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code COS
Departure City Colorado Spring
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DVT
Destination City Phoenix
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2002 2:22PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4250
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --