On December 18, 2012, a pilot had been en route when he encountered unfavorable weather conditions around Payson, and diverted to Phoenix.
He was flying at night and the Ameriflight Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crashed in mountainous terrain in the Mazatzal Wilderness, Arizona.
ATC lost contact with the pilot 50 miles northeast of Phoenix.
The pilot has been tentatively identified as David Kappes. After a Tuesday evening search was cancelled by snowy weather, a Public Safety helicopter located the wreckage on a mountainside northwest of the Barnhardt Trailhead, at about 7,000 feet 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Sheriffs who were dropped off hiked up to the site and located the remains.
UPS flight 5X-2276 made an emergency landing at Raleigh–Durham International Airport, North Carolina, on December 5th.
Southwest Airlines flight WN-3153 made an emergency landing in El Paso, Texas, on August 8th.
Delta Airlines flight DL-284 had to return and make an emergency landing in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 2nd.
American Airlines flight AA 3468 had to return and make an emergency landing at Greater Rochester International Airport, New York, on November 29th.