Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Paulden, Arizona, May 18, 2003
On May 18, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N99TX, was destroyed in an accident near Paulden, Arizona (Big Spring Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to attain and maintain the proper climb airspeed. The high density altitude condition was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Paulden, Arizona · Big Spring Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N99TX · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8029070
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with power lines in the takeoff initial climb from a dirt airstrip. The pilot said that in the takeoff roll he noticed that it was taking longer than normal to lift off from the dirt airport. Upon rotation the pilot maintained a nose high attitude attempting to climb, but the pilot did not retract the landing gear. The airplane remained in ground effect and would not climb. The airplane struck a set of utility lines at the end of the runway. The density altitude was computed to be 6,167 feet. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions with either the engine or the airframe.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,321 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-SIAD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AZ27 Paulden AZ at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PRC, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.