Phoenix - Amarillo

On March 18, 1982 at 12:10 PM, Phoenix - Amarillo experienced a crash involving Cessna 401, operated by Air Security Transport, with the event recorded near Sunflower Arizona.

The flight was categorized as government and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 71.4%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. At 1027 the pilot received a weather briefing for Holbrook, AZ. The pilot was told of forecasts for "at least moderate icing in clouds or in precipitation above the freezing level" and the briefer stated "I guarantee you moderate to severe turbulence..." for a route into Holbrook. The pilot later got weather info for Amarillo, TX and filed an IFR flt plan to Amarillo. The aircraft departed at 1150. At 1204 the pilot reported he had an engine problem. Radar plots indicate the aircraft was maintaining a climb of about 500 fpm up to 11,200 ft. Thirty seconds later the aircraft had descended to 8,500 ft. Radio and contact was lost about 1207. Based on a weather study the probable meteorological conditions that existed about the time & in the area of the accident were moderate to severe turbulence below 12,000 ft msl & while in the clouds above freezing level the aircraft likely encountered moderate to severe rime icing. The aircraft was not certificated for flt into known icing conditions. The flight was transporting prisoners for various government agencies.

Aircraft reference details include registration N499W, MSN 401-0273, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 33.8642°, -111.4676°.