N112LS

On October 17, 2021, about 1402 mountain standard time, a Rockwell International 112B airplane, N112LS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Three Points, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Recorded automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane departed from runway 24L at Ryan Field (RYN), Tucson, Arizona, about 1339, climbed to 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl) [about 2,700 ft above ground level (agl)], and traveled southwest for about 5 minutes before entering into multiple 180° turns over a southbound road. The data shows the airplane continued to the southwest before making a wide right turn and then a left turn. The data showed four 360°- turn maneuvers before heading southwest, and then southeast, as airspeed slowed to about 60 kts. The data showed that about 3,800 ft agl, the airplane’s airspeed slowed to about 50 kts and entered a steep descending left turn. The airplane continued in a descending left turn until ADS-B contact was lost about 1402, at an altitude of about 250 ft agl near the accident site.

Concerned friends of the pilot who were tracking the accident flight contacted the local authorities later that afternoon. The airplane was found that evening by local law enforcement on level, wooded desert terrain.

According to a friend of the pilot, he was preparing for an upcoming flight review scheduled for the following Tuesday. During the investigation, identification of the flight instructor performing the review could not be found.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain in a flat, wings-level attitude, with no debris path. The airplane remained mostly intact and had postimpact fire damage. The engine cowling separated and was found 20 ft from the engine. Broken plexiglass surrounded the main wreckage. All the airplane’s flight controls were found at the accident site and flight control cable continuity was established to the cabin area. The flap and landing gear configuration were not determined during the investigation.

Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

According to Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the airplane’s stall speed with landing gear and flaps retracted is 61 knots.

A National Transportation Safety Board aircraft performance study revealed that the airplane slowed to a calibrated airspeed very near its stall speed. The airplane was flying only 4-7 kts above its reported stall speed during the final two minutes of flight. The aircraft’s airspeed then dropped below the reported stall speed, and it rapidly lost altitude while in a tight left turn.

The pilot’s logbook was not found during the investigation.