Piper PA-28-151 accident near Payson, Arizona, October 8, 1985
On October 8, 1985 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N44207, was destroyed in an accident near Payson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1985 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N44207 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415602
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER HAD A 10:00 MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AT THE DESTINATION AROT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT, REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A PROPOSED VFR FLT AT 7500 FT MSL FROM MESA TO HOLBROOK, AZ. THE WEATHER BRIEFING WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE FLT. THE PLT ENCOUNTERED A LOCALIZED SEVERE WEATHER PHENOMONA WHICH INCLUDED CUMULUS BUILD-UPS, CLOUDS DOWN TO THE GROUND, RAIN AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS. WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED HEARING THE ACFT AND THE IMPACT SOUNDS, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE ACFT WRECKAGE 'UNTIL THE CLOUDS LIFTED.' THE ACFT IMPACTED THE SIDE OF A CLIFF-LIKE MOUNTAIN FEATURE AT THE 7360 FOOT MSL LEVEL IN A 31 DEGREE DESCENT ANGLE IN A 118 DEGREE RIGHT ROLL.
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
- Flight time: 178 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 133 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1985; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Warrior Enterprises, INC
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 3:02 pm
- Destination: P14 Holbrook AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.