NTSB Identification: WPR14FA262
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 20, 2014 in Page, AZ
Aircraft: MOONEY M20B, registration: N74584
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 20, 2014, about 1430 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20B, N74584, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 35 miles southeast of the Page Municipal Airport (PGA) Page, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The personal cross-county flight departed PGA about 1409 for an unknown destination. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board, investigator in charge, revealed that all the major components of the airplane were contained within 85 feet of the main wreckage site.
The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
Investigating Flight Standards District Office: FAA Las Vegas FSDO-19
The wife of a Liberty man killed in a plane crash in Arizona flew to Las Vegas with him and a family friend, but she returned home safely on a commercial flight, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.
Her husband and the 15-year-old friend later boarded a private plane for the trip back to South Carolina, but were killed when it crashed, Coconino County Sheriff's Office Commander Rex Gilliland told GreenvilleOnline.com.
The Sheriff's Office, using dental records, identified the crash victims as Charles Trotter, 47, of Liberty, and Dakota Jacks, 15, of Pickens. Trotter was believed to be piloting the plane. Jacks was a Trotter family friend, according to a Sheriff's Office statement.
A search and rescue officer talked to both families, Gilliland said.
Gilliland said Trotter's wife had flown on the private plane with her husband and Jacks, a Pickens County high school student, to Las Vegas.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, sheriff's officials said.
The officials said the plane crashed in a remote area of the Navajo Indian Reservation in the northeast part of Coconino County. Sheriff's search and rescue officers along with Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter responded to the scene Sunday and confirmed two people died, authorities said.
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center had been investigating the report of an overdue aircraft with two males aboard destined for South Carolina, authorities said.
The AFRCC found the aircraft had departed Las Vegas sometime Friday, landed in Page, Ariz., and then departed Page at 1:30 p.m. Arizona time, authorities said. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.
Authorities said the AFRCC found the last cell phone contact with the pilot's phone was off a tower at Navajo Mountain shortly after the takeoff from Page. The Civil Air Patrol launched a multi-state search Sunday morning.
Four CAP wings were involved in the search across four states, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, authorities said.
About 1:40 p.m. Arizona time, the Arizona Wing of the CAP located from the air the wreckage of a plane in a canyon. Wreckage matching the description of the missing aircraft was at the bottom of a remote desert area called Peach Canyon, authorities said.
Due to the remote nature of the canyon, the wreckage could only be accessed by helicopter, authorities said. The victims' bodies were removed and taken to the medical examiner's office in Flagstaff, authorities said.
A Pickens County schools spokesman said Jacks was a rising 10th-grader at Pickens High.
He was an honors student, Pickens High JROTC cadet, and part of the school's Bluegrass music group, said John Eby, spokesman for the Pickens County school district.
Trotter's family confirmed Monday that he was killed in the crash.
The family issued a statement saying: "Charles Michael Trotter, 47 years old, died doing what he loves — flying his plane. Devoted husband, loved his wife, loved flying, and loved Jesus. Now he is at home with his Lord and Savior. May he rest in peace."
Dakota Jacks
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PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. - Two people from the Upstate were killed in a plane crash.
Dakota Jacks, 15, and pilot and family friend Charles Michael Trotter, 47, of Liberty were on a sightseeing trip when the small plane crashed in Arizona.
The pair was on their way back when the crash happened.
Jacks was a rising 10th at Pickens High School.
Trotter died doing what he loved, flying, according to a statement from his family. “He was a devoted husband, he loved his wife, loved flying and loved Jesus,” it reads. “May he rest in peace.”
Monday evening, the Coconino Co Sheriff's Office released a report giving the current details into the investigation. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center had received a report of an overdue aircraft to South Carolina.
They had found the aircraft had left from Las Vegas and landed in Page, AZ. It then took off from Page. The last contact with the pilot's phone was made shortly after take-off.
The AFRCC had then contacted Civil Air Patrol Wings from different states and a multi-state search was launched on the morning of the 21st. Four different Wings were involved in the search that stretch across the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. A Wing of the Civil Air Patrol spotted wreckage that matched the description of the missing plane in a remote desert area called beach canyon.
The cause of the crash will be investigated by National Transportation Safety Board.
A spokesperson for the family says they appreciate the thoughts and prayers of the entire community.
The pair was on their way back when the crash happened.
Jacks was a rising 10th at Pickens High School.
Trotter died doing what he loved, flying, according to a statement from his family. “He was a devoted husband, he loved his wife, loved flying and loved Jesus,” it reads. “May he rest in peace.”
Monday evening, the Coconino Co Sheriff's Office released a report giving the current details into the investigation. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center had received a report of an overdue aircraft to South Carolina.
They had found the aircraft had left from Las Vegas and landed in Page, AZ. It then took off from Page. The last contact with the pilot's phone was made shortly after take-off.
The AFRCC had then contacted Civil Air Patrol Wings from different states and a multi-state search was launched on the morning of the 21st. Four different Wings were involved in the search that stretch across the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. A Wing of the Civil Air Patrol spotted wreckage that matched the description of the missing plane in a remote desert area called beach canyon.
The cause of the crash will be investigated by National Transportation Safety Board.
A spokesperson for the family says they appreciate the thoughts and prayers of the entire community.
Source: http://www.counton2.com
A Pickens County high school student and a Liberty man were killed in a plane crash in Arizona, according to various sources.
"We are stunned and saddened to learn of the death of Dakota Jacks, a rising 10th-grader at Pickens High School," said John Eby, spokesman for the Pickens County school district.
Officials searching for a missing plane on Sunday discovered two bodies found with aircraft wreckage in Peach Canyon, east of Page, on the Navajo Nation, according to The Arizona Republic newspaper.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to Dakota's family, friends and teachers," Eby said. "He was an Honors student, a Pickens High School JROTC cadet, and a part of the school's Bluegrass music group. Dakota was an outstanding member of the Blue Flame family, and he will be greatly missed."
The family of Charles Michael Trotter of Liberty confirmed Monday that he was killed in the crash.
The family issued a statement saying: "Charles Michael Trotter, 47 years old, died doing what he loves — flying his plane. Devoted husband, loved his wife, loved flying, and loved Jesus. Now he is at home with his Lord and Savior. May he rest in peace."
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office was notified of a missing aircraft around 7:30 a.m. Sunday after the aircraft took off from Page traveling to South Carolina carrying a man and juvenile believed to be unrelated, Sgt. Aaron Dick told The Republic.
Page is about 83 miles north of Flagstaff, Ariz.
After hearing of the missing 1961 Mooney M20B aircraft, the Civil Air Patrols of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah began searching for the aircraft, Dick told The Republic.
Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the Sheriff's Office was alerted of a possible aircraft wreckage sighting in Peach Canyon, according to The Republic.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter carrying a sheriff's office deputy located the crash site around 5 p.m. and recovered two bodies, Dick said.
"Based on the description of the aircraft, (the wreckage) is believed to be the one missing," Dick told The Republic.
The bodies were taken to Flagstaff Sunday evening for autopsy and identification, according to Dick.
The National Transportation Safety Board was scheduled to begin its investigation into the cause of the crash on Monday morning, according to The Republic.
Story and photo: http://www.wltx.com
PAGE, AZ (CBS5) - Two bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a small aircraft in northeastern Arizona, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office said Monday afternoon.
The pilot is believed to be 47-year-old Charles Trotter of Liberty, SC and the passenger is believed to be 15-year-old Dakota Jacks from Pickens, SC, the sheriff's office said. Jacks is reported to be a friend of the pilot's family.
Sheriff's officials said positive identification of the victims will be made by the medical examiner's office.
The plane had departed Las Vegas sometime on Friday, June 20, landed in Page and then departed at 1:30 p.m., according to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
The pilot had not filed a flight plan, center authorities said. The last cell phone contact with the pilot's phone was off a tower at Navajo Mountain shortly after the take-off from Page.
"What we did do is we utilized cell phone forensics and the possible sighting that we did see was very close to the location that the cell phone forensics picked up on," said Arizona Civil Air Patrol spokeswoman Lori Raska.
The center then contacted the Civil Air Patrol Wings from several states. A multi-state search began Sunday morning.
Four Civil Air Patrol Wings were involved in the search across four states, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
A ground search team was deployed to Tuba City from Arizona and a communications team from Colorado was deployed to Page.
The Arizona Wing of the CAP located from the air the wreckage of a plane in a canyon at around 1:40 p.m. Wreckage matching the description of the missing aircraft was at the bottom of a remote desert area called Peach Canyon.
Due to the remote nature of the canyon, access to the wreckage could only be made by helicopter. The bodies of the victims were removed and transported to the medical examiner's office in Flagstaff.
Story, photo gallery and videos: http://www.cbs46.com
PAGE, AZ (CBS5) - Investigators said they believe they've found the wreckage of an airplane that went missing after taking off from Page airport on Friday.
Officials say a father and his son were on board the aircraft.
The search began Saturday after family members told officials the plane never made it to South Carolina.
The pilot took off from Paige Airport about 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Civil Air Patrol found what they believe is an impact sight between Page and Monument Valley.
Investigators told CBS 5 the area is very mountainous and can only be accessed by helicopter.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Department is in charge of the rescue mission.
Officials say the pilot did not file a flight plan. However, search crews were able to use other technology to locate what they believe is the airplane.
"What we did do is we utilized cell phone forensics and the possible sighting that we did see was very close to the location that the cell phone forensics picked up on," said Arizona Civil Air Patrol Spokeswoman Lori Raska.
Investigators haven't said if the pilot made any distress calls. There's no word yet on what might have caused this plane to go down.
Source: http://www.kpho.com
PAGE, AZ - The wreckage of a small plane has been found in northeastern Arizona.
Pilots with the Civil Air Patrol had been searching for an aircraft, identified as a 1961 Mooney M20B carrying a father and son, which left southern California and was headed to South Carolina.
The plane was in Page early Friday afternoon, but departed without a flight plan, according to CAP spokesman Paul Rehman.
According to the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the plane had remained low for sightseeing outside of Page.
Pilots from Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico were assisting in the search.
Coconino County Sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Dick said they were notified around 1:40 p.m. Sunday of a possible wreckage in Peach Canyon, 35 miles east of Page on the Navajo Nation.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter flew a sheriff's deputy into the area and located the wreckage with two bodies inside.
Dick said due to the damage it has not been possible to confirm that it is the missing plane.
The FAA and NTSB have been notified. Dick said the area is not accessible by ground.
FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the family notified authorities on Saturday that the plane was missing.
Source: http://www.abc15.com
RIP. Very sad.
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