WPR26FA097 · SOCATA TB21

On February 4, 2026, about 1950 mountain standard time, a Socata TB21, N967WM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

ADS-B data captured by the FAA showed that the airplane departed from John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA) Santa Ana, California, in visual meteorological conditions about 1650 Pacific standard time (PST), with a planned destination of Prescott Regional /Ernest Love Field Airport (PRC) Prescott, Arizona, about 278 nautical miles east of SNA The enroute cruise altitude was about 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) and the airplane flew on an easterly heading for about 2 hours. Air Traffic Control audio indicated that the pilot contacted the PRC tower controller about 1944 and announced his intention to land. The tower controller instructed the pilot to maintain an altitude at or above 6,500 ft msl, pass over the airport, and enter the downwind for Runway 21L. The pilot acknowledged the instructions and flew over the airport about 1947. At 1948:06, the tower controller cancelled the altitude restriction, instructed the pilot to extend the downwind, and stated he would call the base turn. The pilot acknowledged the controller’s instructions. About 1948:46, the controller cautioned the pilot about his proximity to the final approach course with another airplane on final approach, and the pilot acknowledged. While flying downwind, the pilot continued past the airport, flying over a large area of unlit pastureland. At 1949:01, the controller cleared the pilot to land on Runway 21L. At this time the airplane was about 3 nautical miles northeast of PRC and the pilot began the left turn to the base leg of the airport traffic patttern. ADS-B data indicated that as the airplane turned, it rapidly descended, losing about 800 ft of altitude and gaining about 58 knots of airspeed in about 16 seconds. The airplane disappeared from radar at 1950:45. Subsequently, the tower attempted to contact the pilot multiple times and requested assistance from other airplanes in the area in locating the airplane. The airplane came to rest inverted in upward sloping pasture consisting of grassy vegetation on a northeasterly heading at an elevation of about 4,900 ft msl. The main wreckage was located about 3 miles northeast of the approach end of runway 21L near the extended center line of the runway. The initial impact point (IIP) was marked by a ground scar that contained fragments from the left position light. A debris path extended about 440 ft from the IIP on a magnetic heading of about 287°. All major components of the airplane were located within the debris field. Both wings had separated from the fuselage and were fragmented along the debris path. The fuselage and empennage remained attached and came to rest about 360 ft west of the IIP and the engine was located about 60 ft west of the fuselage. A ground scar with 5 propeller strike marks was located about 31 ft west of the IIP and was collocated with the propeller blades and hub. The two propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratches, nicks, and gouges. One propeller blade displayed S bending and the other propeller blade was bent outboard. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Verbatim NTSB factual narrative from the NTSB dataset