LAX07FA123

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude, and, his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering to reverse course in a box canyon. Contributing to the accident were the rising terrain and the box canyon.

The two private pilots had flown to Colorado to visit relatives and the accident occurred during their return flight to their home airport. Both pilots were current in the airplane. However, the pilot in the left seat was more experienced, being certificated in 1986 and having 220 total flight hours, of which 111 were in cross-country flying. The pilot in the right seat was certificated in 2006. His total flying and cross-country experience was, respectively, 79 and 22 hours. Prior to taking off from the intermediate fuel stop (at an elevation 4,316 feet mean sea level), the airplane's fuel tanks were topped off. This action increased the airplane's gross weight to within 100 pounds of its certificated maximum weight. Thereafter, the pilots departed under a clear sky with at least 10 miles visibility on a westerly course toward Nevada. The pilots entered an area of rapidly rising terrain, which would have been in clear view as they approached the area. The flying pilot failed to initiate a climb in sufficient time to avoid the mountainside in a box-like canyon. Based on a review of the ground scars and impact signatures in the wreckage, as the pilot attempted to reverse course in the canyon, the airplane appeared to have stalled and impacted a rocky outcrop while in a nose down attitude. The collision occurred about 250 feet below the rim of the canyon wall, at an elevation of 5,670 feet msl. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 9, 2007, about 1620 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N6267D, impacted rising mountainous terrain during a course reversal turn about 11 miles west (264 degrees, magnetic) of the Page Municipal (uncontrolled) Airport (PGA), Page, Arizona. The airplane's fuselage was crushed by decelerative impact forces, and the airplane was destroyed. The two private pilots were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The registered owner of the airplane had authorized the pilot who occupied the left front seat to fly his airplane, but he had not authorized the pilot who occupied the right front seat to fly his airplane. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from PGA about 1610. A personal friend of the two pilots reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the pilots' flight commenced from North Las Vegas, Nevada (VGT), on April 1, 2007. The purpose of the flight was for the left-seated pilot to visit relatives residing in Colorado. The pilots departed Colorado for their return flight to VGT on the morning of April 9. The friend indicated that the left-seated pilot had more flying experience than the right-seated pilot. According to personnel at Classic Aviation, a fixed base operator (FBO) at PGA, upon landing at PGA one of the pilots requested that the airplane be topped off with 100 LL avgas. The airplane was serviced accordingly. The refueling operation was completed by about 1545. Thereafter, one of the pilots (subsequently determined to be the left-seated pilot) paid for the fuel. The payment operation was accomplished with a credit card, and the transaction was time stamped at 1558. The line service employee, who refueled the accident airplane, reported to the Safety Board investigator that he did not observe any irregularities with the airplane while servicing it. He completely filled both wing fuel tanks, for a total of 36.8 gallons of fuel. Another Classic Aviation employee reported that the pilots came into the FBO and may have purchased vending machine food. Also, they may have checked the weather using the FBO's computer. About 1605, the pilots departed the FBO and were not observed again. No one at the airport reported to the Safety Board investigator having observed the airplane takeoff. Also, no witnesses reported observing the airplane proceed in a westerly direction toward the rising terrain or crash. The Safety Board investigator estimated the airplane's departure and accident times. The pilots' westward flight route from PGA toward their VGT destination was not determined. A search was initiated for the airplane/pilots when they failed to arrive at VGT. The airplane was located when a PGA-based pilot homed in on the accident airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT), which was audible at the airport. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Pilot, Left Seat, Age 51 Based upon a review of the pilot's personal flight record logbook, he began taking flying lessons in 1981. He flew mostly Cessna 150 and 152 airplanes during the next few years. He was issued a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land in 1986, with a total flight time of about 57 hours. The pilot continued flying through May 1988. The pilot resumed flying in March 1991, and he stopped flying in November 1993. His next flight was in February 2001, following which he flew twice in 2005. The pilot resumed flying on June 13, 2006, upon completing a 1.1-hour flight review in a Cessna 172. Between September 29, and October 2, 2006, the pilot flew round trip between North Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pueblo, Colorado. This round trip flight took about 14 hours. Thereafter, the pilot continued flying each month during the remainder of 2006. During 2007, the pilot logged a flight on February 16, and on March 7. Thereafter, only 1 additional flight is recorded in his logbook, but the date is not indicated. During the 90 days preceding initiation of the April 1, 2007, round trip flight from Nevada to Colorado, the pilot's logbook lists 3 landings, and a total flight time of 5.7 hours. The pilot's logbook indicates that his total cross-country flight time is about 111 hours. His total flying experience is about 220 hours. The pilot held a second-class aviation medical certificate, which was issued without restrictions in December 2005. Pilot, Right Seat, Age 59 Based upon a review of the pilot's personal flight record logbook, he began taking flying lessons in December 2005. The pilot soloed in February 2006, and was issued a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land in April 2006, at which time his total flying experience was about 79 hours. During the 90-days preceding initiation of the April 1, 2007, flight from Nevada to Colorado, the pilot's logbook lists 4 landings, and a total flight time of 4.2 hours. The pilot's total flight time prior to departure from Nevada was about 90 hours. His total pilot-in-command time was about 21 hours, and his total cross-country flight time was about 22 hours. All of the pilot's flying experience was in a Cessna 172. The pilot held a third-class aviation medical certificate, which was issued without restrictions in April 2006. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Maintenance A review of the airplane's maintenance records indicates that the airplane was maintained on an annual inspection basis, with the last annual inspection accomplished in February 2007. No further maintenance was listed in the aircraft or engine logbooks. The airplane's registered owner reported to the Safety Board investigator that, to the best of his knowledge, everything in the airplane was functioning properly when the pilot departed VGT for his cross-country flight. Weight The airplane's fuel tanks have a maximum published capacity of 43 gallons, and a total usable capacity of 40.0 gallons. A review of fuel receipts found in the wreckage revealed the following purchases of 100LL octane fuel: (1) On April 1, 2007, 18.4 gallons of fuel were added at Page, AZ. (2) On April 9, 2007, 28.4 gallons of fuel were added at Pueblo, CO. The receipt was time stamped at 0953; and (3) On April 9, 2007, 36.8 gallons of fuel were added at Page, AZ. The receipt for payment was time stamped 1558. The airplane's maximum Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificated gross weight is 2,300 pounds. Its basic empty weight, as of May 14, 2001, was 1,478.22 pounds, and its useful load was 822 pounds. The Safety Board investigation team weighed the pilots' baggage and estimated the weight of additional items observed in the airplane at the accident site. The total weight of all articles was about 102 pounds. The total weight of the pilots, based upon their FAA medical certificates, was 385 pounds. The estimated maximum weight of the usable fuel at the time of the accident was 235 pounds. Based upon this data, the maximum airplane weight at the time of the accident was about 2,200 pounds (100 pounds below its maximum certificated gross weight). Climb Performance According to Cessna Aircraft Company's 1979 "Pilot's Operating Handbook" (POH) for a model 172N, when operating at 2,300 pounds gross weight, at a pressure altitude of 4,000 feet, and with a temperature of +20 degrees Celsius, a Cessna 172N is capable of climbing at 545 feet per minute at a climb airspeed of 71 knots. This published maximum rate of climb is reduced under less than standard atmospheric conditions. Interpolating for the temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions reported at 1556 for PGA, an airplane operating at its maximum certificated gross weight is capable of climbing about 450 feet per minute at 5,000 feet. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest aviation weather observation st