Piper Cherokee Arrow II crashes in rough terrain near Alta Ski Area, Utah (31 Aug 25)

[fasteddie]

Plane Crash in Albion Basin at Alta Ski Area, UT, Kills One and Injures Another - SnowBrains

One person died and another was critically injured late Sunday after a small plane crash in the Albion Basin area of Alta Ski Area, UT.

snowbrains.com

Accident Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II N1147X, Sunday 31 August 2025

A Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II, N1147X, crashed under unknown circumstances in rugged wooded terrain in the Albion Basin area, Little Cottonwood Canyon near, Alta, Utah. One occupan...

asn.flightsafety.org

NTSB investigating deadly plane crash near Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon

A small plane crashed in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday. Officials with Unified Fire Authority said they were responding, along with the Alta Town Marshal.

www.fox13now.com

One fatal, one seriously injured. Rough place for a crash; not much room in that canyon.

 

[M20K]

Sorry to hear only one survived. I'll go with the glass half full and say the pilot did an excellet job picking a place to put the plane down in the mountains and allowing one person to survive.

Also, my primary CFI taught me during my night training where the terrain can not be so hospitible in the PNW, if you have a problem and you see a light, land there. Odds are if there is a light there is a road and if the go searching for you they're going to drive along the roads first. This guy went to the ski resort where there were potential people but certainly access via the roads!

 

[Flying Keys]

There were moderately gusty northerly winds in the South Valley and temps were ISA+25. The density altitude on the ground at SVR was over 7,000’ to begin with (2500’ above field elevation). They had about 13nm from the last pinged altitude of 6,400 to get to 11,000 for just a little terrain clearance at the end of the canyon - a gradient of 350ft/nm. It seems the aircraft had a 180hp, normally-aspirated engine, needs verification.

It looks like they did the I-80 VFR transition eastbound over SLC, then flew south along I-15 before terminating. Big Cottonwood Canyon is about twice as long as Little, where they ended up. Big is also wider and the summit is slightly lower. It wouldn’t be hard to mistake one for the other if you’re not familiar with the area.

 

[Tom J]

I'm familiar with the plane in question, it was an Arrow II, 200 HP. That said, still a tough ask to climb as required.

Plane and pilot (survivor) are based in southern Maryland, not sure how much time he spent in the SLC area. Good pilot and CFI, flew P-3C/P-8A for the Navy. Really good dude, don't know the deceased passenger.

 

[M20K]

Plane and pilot (survivor) are based in southern Maryland, not sure how much time he spent in the SLC area.

Do we know if it had anthing to do with altitude/performance? Or was it an engine/mechanical issue?

 

[Tom J]

I know they have had engine work done in the past year or so, not sure if there is direct correlation, altitude/performance or getting into the wrong canyon as mentioned above.

 

[MFE]

edit: wrong thread

 

[Sac Arrow]

There were moderately gusty northerly winds in the South Valley and temps were ISA+25. The density altitude on the ground at SVR was over 7,000’ to begin with (2500’ above field elevation). They had about 13nm from the last pinged altitude of 6,400 to get to 11,000 for just a little terrain clearance at the end of the canyon - a gradient of 350ft/nm. It seems the aircraft had a 180hp, normally-aspirated engine, needs verification.

It looks like they did the I-80 VFR transition eastbound over SLC, then flew south along I-15 before terminating. Big Cottonwood Canyon is about twice as long as Little, where they ended up. Big is also wider and the summit is slightly lower. It wouldn’t be hard to mistake one for the other if you’re not familiar with the area.

Actually, the IO 360 C1C is a 200 hp engine.

 

[AV8R_87]

Reports are saying the pilot has been involved in two prior crashes, including one resulting in him being prohibited from ever flying for the US Office of the Interior.

Wrong crash. That's 8307W.

 

[Flying Keys]

Actually, the IO 360 C1C is a 200 hp engine.

Thanks for the verification. The arrow I flew was 200hp, so when I read 180, it cast doubt (hence the disclaimer).

 

[Sac Arrow]

Thanks for the verification. The arrow I flew was 200hp, so when I read 180, it cast doubt (hence the disclaimer).

I flew an Arrow II for several years. I actually liked it better than the Turbo Arrow III I owned outright for my first airplane. The TA III was nicely equipped, but I had little confidence in the Continental TSIO 360 that slung oil like a radial and ate a turbo on one flight causing a near death experience. The Arrow II was lighter, was more nimble, and the engine was bullet proof. I had zero issues flying in and out of KTVL on hot days (nearly 10,000 foot DA).

I was in a partnership. The Other Guy bought the plane new in 1972. The first flight I had was from KEDU (Davis) to KTVL (South Lake Tahoe) on a hot day with a full plane. He scared me and went full rich on the landing at TVL but the engine still ran fine. I flew the plane, right seat, from TVL back to EDU.

 

[hindsight2020]

I flew an Arrow II for several years. I actually liked it better than the Turbo Arrow III I owned outright for my first airplane. The TA III was nicely equipped, but I had little confidence in the Continental TSIO 360 that slung oil like a radial and ate a turbo on one flight causing a near death experience. The Arrow II was lighter, was more nimble, and the engine was bullet proof.

On the bolded, that was not my experience, but I will say it held together under power pretty well when it started coming apart in flight on me, compared to the typical con rod uncontained failure outcome commonly experienced by Conti cases.

Yes, in the context of a TSIO-360 as the alternative, I second your preference for the NA Lyco.

Parallel valve Lycos are pretty bulletproof. My next purchase will likely be powered by one (O-320 or 360). I no longer want anything to do with their angle valve variants.