Narrative:Frontier flight 7 was a regular service between Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ with several intermediate stops. The flight departed Prescott, Arizona at 13:21 for the final leg. Cruising altitude was 6500 feet. En route the airplane descended due to decreasing visibility. At an altitude of about 4600 feet the left wing impacted the side of a mountain ridge. The portion of the left wing and the aileron torn off was from station 286.4 outboard to the tip.
A safe landing was made at Phoenix at 14:05.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the attempt by the pilot to fly over mountainous terrain by visual reference to the ground in weather conditions which severely restricted forward visibility and necessitated a descent to a dangerously low altitude."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | CAB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Accident number: | final report | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
VFR flight in IMC
Forced landing on runway
Sources:
» CAB Report
Photos
Video, social media
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Prescott Airport, AZ to Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 140 km (87 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.