April 13, 1990: Windrock Aviation Inc., Cessna T207A (N91081) Grand Canyon, AZ
Windrock Airlines pilot Lloyd Hedges had just completed an air tour of the Grand Canyon in "Rocky IV" when he began the final approach to Grand Canyon Airport's 9,000 foot Runway 21. Along with Hedges on board the Cessna Turbo 207 were six passengers enjoying their vacation with a quick 50 minute flight over the canyon. With little high-performance airplane experience, Hedges was new to the canyon's gusty April winds and new to the Cessna 207. Just before touchdown, a sudden gust caused the aircraft to "balloon" more than 70 feet above the runway. The startled pilot initiated a go-around.
Tower controllers witnessed several puffs of black smoke emanate from the aircraft and shortly thereafter, the pilot transmitted to controllers that he had lost power and was "Going Down". Just before impact, the aircraft stalled and rolled between two tall pine trees. Fortunately, the aircraft impacted upright in the bottom of a ravine about 1/2 mile off the departure end of the runway. In another twist of good fate, there was no post crash fire even though fuel was pouring from the ruptured wing tanks. Rescue teams arrived within minutes and everyone survived with injuries ranging from broken bones to permanent brain damage.
The accident investigation revealed several probable causes to the accident. The turbo-charger absolute pressure controller (APC) was found to be improperly adjusted by a mechanic. The pilot was blamed for improperly manipulating the powerplant controls during the go-around and Windrock Aviation was to blame for not training the pilot the proper procedures for operating a turbo-charged engine. After five years of litigation, a jury awarded a total of 9.2 million dollars to both the pilot and his passengers.
***********************************************************************************************************************************
A brief second or two glimpse of the crash site was all I had when I flew over this accident in April 1990. Not really enough time to exactly see it's precise location. Twenty years later I decided to look for the crash site. It was not an easy task. I recall the aircraft lower in the ravine than it actually was.
Over the years forest growth and pine needles hid many parts. A search near the top of the ravine revealed the point of impact as the aircraft came to rest on the ravine's rocky slope. A few small pieces remain: bent eyeglass frames, a coin, and fragments of metal and Plexiglas mark this site.
WINDROCK AVIATION (WINDROCK AIRLINES)
The company was established in the mid 1980s by Ben Beagle. It was later sold to Dan Lawler (owner of Air Grand Canyon) in 1994. The company ceased operations in 2007.
This brochure from 1990 explains the various tours that were offered as well as prices. The "Quality" Tour gave passengers aerial views from both the south and north rims of the Grand Canyon.
THE AIRCRAFT
Windrock Aviation pilot Patrick Doyle stands next to "Rocky IV". The aircraft was a Cessna T207 (N91081). It was the 62nd T207 delivered off Cessna's assembly line in Wichita, Kansas.
The aircraft was powered by a Continental TSIO-520M turbocharged engine which delivered 310 horsepower on takeoff.
Somehow the aircraft descended through this stand of trees without striking a single one. The aircraft then stalled and impacted the slope in the foreground.
After striking numerous boulders and rocks. The front of the aircraft sustained a majority of the damage while the passenger cabin remained intact. The aircraft was spared catching fire just by chance and pure luck.
All occupants of the aircraft sustained serious life threatening injuries consisting of blunt trauma, broken bones, and spinal injuries.
Pilot Lloyd Hedges was badly injured. The pilot and passengers of "Rocky IV" were transported by helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center.
AIRCRAFT STORAGE - APRIL 1990
The aircraft wreckage was recovered from the site and stored near the Grand Canyon Airlines Maintenance Hangar.
The aircraft forward section sustained a majority of damage. This photo of N91081's instrument panel illustrates the devastating damage inflicted in the accident.
The passenger cabin of the Cessna T207 maintained its integrity throughout the impact sequence.
The tail section and other aircraft parts were placed in a dump truck. While the "N" number remains intact, Windrock Aviation personnel spray painted over the companies logo to hide the identity.
SEARCHING FOR THE SITE - AUGUST 2011
A hike to the ravine in 2011 revealed no evidence of the crash site, but did show that many trees that existed in 1990 were now cut down as a safety measure to their proximity to the airport.
Evidence of trees cut in the past 20 years changed the entire look of the area and made it difficult to re-establish the location of the crash site.
I brushed away a lot of pine needles, but still no aircraft wreckage could be located.
SEARCHING FOR THE SITE - AUGUST 2013
Returning to the ravine, I began my search near the upper edge and soon found the impact site of "Rocky IV".
The yellow circle depicts the location where a majority of wreckage debris was located. A few items found within the debris helped provide identification to the crash site.
This impact damaged ballpoint pen was located at the site. The pen was labeled "Air Grand Canyon", a competitor air tour company based at Grand Canyon Airport.
The site was strewn with aircraft window Plexiglas from the windshield and the windows on each forward door.
Aircraft window Plexiglas was thrown for quite a distance at the site. Some fragments were located more than 200 feet from the initial impact site.
These gold colored eyeglass frames were bent from the impact.
Fragments of aircraft aluminum and window Plexiglas.
This tiny part along with other key parts located at the site helped identify this crash site as that of "N91081".
This particular fastener was painted orange/red and matched the color of two stripes along the aircraft fuselage. The fastener was used as a backup latch for the nose baggage compartment door.
***THE END***
