Piper PA-28-180 accident near Kanab, Utah, August 30, 2023
On August 30, 2023 at about 3:42 pm local time, a 1975 Piper PA-28-180, registered N33094, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kanab, Utah (Kanab Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to take off in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2023 · about 3:42 pm local time
- Place
- Kanab, Utah · Kanab Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1975 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N33094 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7505122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from a local airport with the airplane 50 lbs under its maximum gross weight of 2,500 pounds. During takeoff, the pilot selected two notches of flaps and began the takeoff roll with full power. The airplane lifted off but would not gain airspeed. The pilot retracted the flaps one notch at a time and the airplane began to descend. The pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed to clear a set of powerlines; after he pulled up to clear the powerlines, the airplane impacted a road just beyond the airport perimeter, breaching a fence and coming to rest in a hay field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was run on a test stand and ran smoothly during the operational check, with no unusual indications. Audio provided from a nearby surveillance camera confirmed the engine was developing power until shortly before the crash. The reason for a reduction of power prior to impact could not be determined. The airplane was able to become airborne in ground effect; however, once the airplane left ground effect, the high density altitude, greater induced drag, and reduction of flaps likely rendered the airplane incapable of sustaining flight outside of ground effect.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Related operating info
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,156 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 26.2 in the last 90 days; 10.3 in the last 30 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,597.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2022; 23.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 3,596 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KKNB Kanab UT at 3:42 pm
- Destination: 1L8 Hurricane UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 01, 6,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from KKNB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KKNB 301550Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/M10 A3022 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on September 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Aircraft & Engine Logbooks WPR23LA329 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Factory W&b WPR23LA329 | PDF, 21 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weight and Balance Revision WPR23LA329 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Data | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | WPR23LA329, Weight / Balance and Performance Summary | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | WPR23LA329 Engine Test Run Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Pom PA-28-180 Ch 9 Excerpt | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Engine Run Exam Video File | MOV file | Download |
| 11 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Provided Surveillance Camera | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.