On January 28, 2010, at 0837 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA-28-181, N293PA, collided with wires while attempting to return to the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. Transpac Aviation Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The student pilot was killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. The solo cross-country instructional flight departed DVT at 0831, with a planned destination of Wickenburg, Arizona. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The student pilot departed DVT using runway 07R and shortly after takeoff requested to return to the airport due to reduced visibility.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing the airplane flying at a very low altitude and then hearing one loud bang, followed a few seconds later by another loud bang. Two witnesses reported hearing the airplane’s engine prior to the impact.
Witnesses and first responders reported that the weather at the accident site as low clouds and foggy. The accident site was on the south side base of Adobe Mountain, which is about 300 feet higher than the main wreckage site. First responders stated that the clouds obscured the top half of Adobe Mountain.
The first identified point of impact was power lines, which were suspended about 30 feet above ground level. Pieces of the airplane tail and rudder sections were located under the power lines.
The second impact point was a second power pole located 400 feet from the first point of impact on a heading of 114 degrees. The power lines that were attached to the second power pole were entangled in the tail and the propeller of the airplane.
The wreckage was documented on site and recovered for further examination.