Executive Summary
- A 64-year-old pilot died in a single-engine plane crash near Prescott Valley, Arizona.
- The Socata TB21 aircraft was flying from Santa Ana, California, to Prescott Regional Airport.
- The incident occurred the same night as a fatal DPS helicopter crash in Flagstaff.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation.
A 64-year-old pilot was killed Tuesday night when his single-engine Socata TB21 aircraft crashed in an open field near Prescott Valley, Arizona, federal authorities and local law enforcement confirmed. The fatality marks the second aviation disaster in the state on the same day, following a separate incident in Flagstaff.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft went down around 8 p.m. local time on February 4. The pilot, whose identity has not been publicly released pending notification of kin, was the sole occupant on board. Flight tracking data indicates the plane departed from Santa Ana, California, and was destined for Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), a hub for general aviation and commercial flights to Phoenix.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to the vicinity of Poquito Valley Road following reports of a downed aircraft. With aerial assistance from Native Air, authorities located the wreckage in an open field. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred hours after an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed in Flagstaff while assisting in an active shooter situation, killing two people. These consecutive incidents represent the deadliest day for Arizona aviation since a January helicopter crash in Superior claimed the lives of four family members.
Investigative Outlook
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has assumed the lead role in the investigation, with technical assistance from the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine radar data, air traffic control communications, and the wreckage field to determine the cause of the accident. While the recent surge in aviation fatalities in Arizona involves unrelated incidents, the clustering of such events underscores the inherent risks of general and tactical aviation operations in the region’s diverse terrain.
