Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Jun 30, 2009 (1 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on June 30, 2009 near Saint George, Utah, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: The...
- Date: June 30, 2009
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Saint George, Utah, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during the descent, for reasons that could not be determined.
A Malibu Mirage flying alone from North Las Vegas to Cedar City in clear weather began a steady descent about 11 minutes after takeoff and struck mountainous terrain near St. George on a nearly constant heading. Investigators found no mechanical fault, and the post-impact fire destroyed the instruments, so no flight data survived. The pilot had heart disease and had taken a sedating over-the-counter antihistamine, but the NTSB could not establish a link to the accident.