Cessna 172 accident near Panguitch, Utah, October 8, 2010
On October 8, 2010 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8437A, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Panguitch, Utah (Panguitch Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to conduct a low-level flight into a canyon in windy conditions at a high density altitude, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2010 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Panguitch, Utah · Panguitch Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8437A · no longer on the register · serial 36134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The employer of the pilot and passenger reported to local authorities that they had not returned from a presumed elk-spotting flight for an upcoming hunting trip. The wreckage was subsequently located in a remote canyon area in rising mountainous terrain at an elevation of 9,600 feet. There were no witnesses to the accident; however, pilots flying in the area that afternoon noted that it was too windy to fly below the ridgeline and tree movement was visible; the sky was clear. The calculated density altitude for the area was 11,178 feet. Based on the final location and heading of the airplane, it is likely that the pilot may have attempted to maneuver at a low altitude in the canyon and was unable to maintain clearance from terrain in the windy conditions and high density altitude. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 42 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,734 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2010; 16 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motor'S Inc. O-300-D-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCE Bryce Canyon UT at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BCE, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.