This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N387AF
- History of Flight:
On June 23, 2026, at about 2248 local, a Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N387AF, registered to CSA Aircraft Leasing LLC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pleasant View, Utah. The pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight originated from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC/KSLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, at 2225.
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed runway 17 and entered a climbing left hand turn to an altitude of 8,400 ft and proceeded north.
The airplane continued uneventfully until the final few seconds of the track, where it could be seen briefly climbing to 8,600 ft before it impacted mountainous terrain. The elevation at the accident site was about 9,200 ft, and the peaks surrounding it reach up to 9,700 ft (see figures).
Figure 1: ADS-B exchange track ran through Google Earth
Figure 2: Looking towards end of track
Figure 3: End of track
Figure 5: ADS-B exchange data
Figure 5: Terrain estimation
- Pilot Information:
Unknown.
- Aircraft Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number 172S10387, was manufactured in 2006. It was 4-seat, high wing, fixed-gear airplane, and was powered by a Lycoming IO-3600-L2A 180 horsepower engine.
According to an old sale listing, the airplane was equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics package.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
Unknown.
- Weather:
(1) METARs:
METAR KOGD 240353Z AUTO 17008KT 10SM FU CLR 26/02 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP096 T02610017
METAR KOGD 240453Z AUTO 17008KT 10SM FU CLR 25/01 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP091 T02500011
METAR KBMC 240435Z AUTO 10003KT 10SM CLR 26/04 A3000 RMK AO2
METAR KBMC 240455Z AUTO 32006KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A3000 RMK AO2
(2) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1052 PM MDT Tue Jun 23 2026
.KEY MESSAGES
- Daytime temperatures will run 5 to 10 degrees above normal
across the area through Friday. With this prolonged period of
hot temperatures, the potential for heat related illness will
remain elevated across valley locations.
- Showers and thunderstorms will develop on Wednesday across the
state. Broadly, there is a 10% chance of wind gusts in excess of
50 mph, with a 30% chance across northern Utah.
- Some stronger thunderstorms may be capable of periods of heavy
rainfall Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening.
- Strong southwesterly winds near 40-50 mph will combine with very
hot and dry conditions to bring widespread and significant
critical fire weather conditions across the area Friday into
Saturday.
- A strong cold front will cross the region later Saturday into
Sunday bringing colder temperatures and the potential for
patchy frost for the Cache Valley and Wasatch Back.
&&
.DISCUSSION...A very active and very impactful week shaping up for
the Beehive State, with a wide array of weather impacts.
Currently, several large wildfires are creating a significant
amount of smoke across much of the state, with widespread haze,
decreased air quality and reduced visibility, particularly in
association with the Iron, Cottonwood and Grapevine Wildfires.
Please see air.utah.gov for more information and tips on how to
handle air quality issues related to smoke.
Increasing southwest flow will continue to shift a significant
moisture surge into the region tonight into Wednesday.
Precipitable water values will exceed the 90th percentile by 1-2
AM this morning near St. George, and by 4 PM to the Salt Lake City
area. This will combine with a lifting shortwave trough to bring
convection to the region.
With the approach of the shortwave trough and edge of the deeper
moisture advection reaching southwestern Utah overnight, expect
isolated to widely scattered showers to develop in this area after
midnight. With better forcing reaching southern Utah around
15-18Z, an area of showers and thunderstorms...likely high-based
will shift north and east across Washington, Iron and Beaver
Counties through 18Z. With forcing then shifting north, this
initial area of convection will weaken and shift east around
20-21Z, though some members of the HREF hold on to convection a
bit longer, through 23Z or so. For these areas, the 25th to 75th
percentile precipitation ranges from around a trace to 0.15" or
so. Peak rates around 0.50" are possible in areas where convection
is able to train across the same locations, especially in areas
prone to flash flooding like slot canyons and normally dry washes.
For this reason, the Weather Prediction Center has outlooked
portions of southern Utah in a marginal risk for excessive
rainfall and the flash flood potential rating is possible for most
locations.
Further north, with afternoon heating, expect higher instability
and deeper shear to bring the potential for more organized
convection. HREF SBCAPE (25th to 75th percentile) ranges from
around 250-750 J/kg by late afternoon. This will combine with deep
layer shear around 20-35 kts to bring the threat of organized
convection to northern and central Utah.
Looking at the 00Z HREF, the 25km neighborhood probability across
northern and central Utah is around 20-30% for wind gusts in
excess of 55 mph with stronger thunderstorms. Further coordination
will continue with the Storm Prediction Center for a possible
upgrade from a marginal to a slight risk for severe thunderstorms
Wednesday afternoon and evening. For the Wasatch Front, the
highest risk of severe convection will be between 3 and 8 PM.
Another round of convection will be possible across eastern Utah
Thursday afternoon and evening as dry southwest flow begins to
advect into western Utah. Again, peak rainfall rates around
0.50-0.70" will bring an elevated flash flood threat to places
like the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park and the
Capitol Reef area. The Flash Flood Potential Rating has been
increased to Probable for these eastern parks and the Weather
Prediction Center has outlooked this area with another marginal
risk for excessive rainfall.
As an atypically strong (for June) upper level trough crosses
into the Pacific Coast Friday, strong southwest winds will
develop across the entire state, with wind gusts in the 40 to 50
mph range. These wind gusts will combine with very low humidities
to bring widespread and significant critical fire weather
conditions to all areas with critical fuels. A weak cold front may
bring a period of lower winds to portions of northern Utah Friday
night while the remainder of the state continues to see strong,
gusty winds through the overnight hours. These strong winds will
redevelop in all areas by early Saturday afternoon ahead of a
stronger cold front. In some locations across southern and eastern
Utah, critical fire weather conditions could continue for 36
hours straight between Friday and Saturday. This is shaping up to
be a very significant event...and a Fire Weather Watch has been
issued for Friday and Saturday. Wind advisories are likely to be
needed as well.
It is incredibly important that everyone be extremely careful with
any potential ignition sources during this period of critical fire
weather conditions. Even in areas where campfires are allowed,
consider skipping them for this time. If you must have a campfire
(and they are allowed by fire restrictions), make sure to
thoroughly dose the fire, feel it with your hand, and douse again
til there is no heat. Consider avoiding the use of exploding
targets and fireworks. Make sure you aren`t dragging chains on
your RVs and other vehicles. Don`t park on high grass.
Much colder temperatures behind the cold front late Saturday will
bring the threat of frost and may even freeze conditions to the
Cache Valley, Wasatch Back and other normally colder valleys.
Those with gardens in these areas should pay attention to the
forecast and consider protecting their plants if temperatures
continue to trend this cold.
&&
.AVIATION...SLC...VFR conditions expected to prevail, though
elevated smoke will result in hazy skies. Southerly winds will
prevail through the night into Wednesday morning, with potential
for modest gusts noted after around 12Z. Winds are then expected
to shift more W to NW between ~18-20Z. However, also anticipate
development of showers and thunderstorms, largely between 21z and
02z, which will be capable of strong and gusty outflow winds which
may result in periods of variability.
REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions are expected
to prevail, though wildfires will result in areas of smoke
downwind, with local MVFR conditions possible near sunrise and
sunset. Typical diurnal winds are expected tonight, then westerly
to southwesterly winds become increasingly favored Wednesday.
Additionally, moisture lifting into the area from the south will
result in scattered morning and afternoon convective development.
With most of this activity high-based in nature, expect the
primary threat to be lightning and strong gusty outflow winds.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Issued at 201 PM Tuesday
Early Wednesday morning, scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms will move into far southern Utah. While
initially dry, storms will become more of a mix of wet and dry,
with the highest chances for wetting rains across southwestern
Utah. Gusty outflow winds up to 50 mph will be possible. By the
afternoon, thunderstorms will develop across northern Utah, with a
threat of strong outflow winds up to 65 mph. Overnight RH
recoveries will improve quite a bit Wednesday night.
Drier air will push into Utah on Thursday, however models have
trended towards a bit more lingering moisture, particularly across
eastern Utah where minimum RH will largely be in the 20-30%
range. Gusty outflow winds will once again be possible with
scattered thunderstorms that develop.
As a larger storm system strengthens across the western US,
strong southwesterly winds will develop on Friday and Saturday
statewide, with widespread gusts of 40-50 mph expected. A Fire
Weather Watch has been issued for nearly all of Utah on these days.
The air mass will become increasingly dry ahead of the cold
front, with critical minimum RH on Friday and Saturday. A weaker,
initial cold front will pass through northern Utah on Friday
night, bringing lighter winds and a wind shift, however
southwesterly winds will quickly redevelop on Saturday. A stronger
cold front will move through Saturday night, bringing
northwesterly winds and much cooler temperatures. There is some
uncertainty with how long the gusty southwesterly winds last into
Sunday across southern Utah.
&&
.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday
night for UTZ478-482-484-488-489-492>498.
WY...None.
&&
$$
Kruse/Cheng/Cunningham
For more information from NOAA`s National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity- Additional Information:
No
