Tusayan, Arizona — At approximately 3:30 pm on March 8, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy for the Grand Canyon Substation responded to reports of a plane crash approximately 18 miles west/southwest of Grand Canyon National Park Airport.
A twin-engine Piper Seneca plane that left Glendale, Arizona was flying from Glendale to Kanab, Utah. En route to Kanab, the plane experienced engine problems. The pilot knew he couldn’t get to Kanab, so he tried to get to Grand Canyon National Park Airport. They were forced to make an emergency landing about 19.5 miles west of the town of Tusayan. The pilot was able to make a successful emergency landing without damage to the plane and without injury.
An Army Air National Guard helicopter was in the area and heard the plane’s emergency transponder alert. They quickly responded to the location and found the plane and both pilots. Both pilots were treated at the airport by Tusayan fire medical personnel and released to the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have taken over the investigation.
