Arizona, United States: A Glasair Sportsman 2+2 carrying two people crashed in the remote Mazatzal Wilderness west of Payson in Gila County, Arizona, on Monday, August 10, 2026, killing both occupants, Brad Lawrence, 75, and Carter Buckner, 19, of Payson, as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigate what caused the accident. The crash site was located west of Polles Mesa in rugged wilderness terrain, with reports placing the accident at around 11 p.m.
The aircraft was identified by the FAA as a Glasair Sportsman 2+2, a privately operated light aircraft. No airline or commercial operator has been identified in the reports, and authorities have not publicly confirmed the aircraft’s registration, departure point or intended destination. The NTSB said investigators were continuing to gather information, while the FAA confirmed that the agency was also investigating the crash.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a possible downed aircraft west of Polles Mesa in the Mazatzal Wilderness. The location’s remote and rugged terrain created significant challenges for the response. A helicopter from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helped locate the wreckage, while a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office helicopter transported deputies to the crash site for the initial investigation. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said the assistance was required because of the “remoteness and rugged terrain.”
Gila County Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd thanked the neighboring agencies for their assistance following the crash. “Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd would like to thank the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Pinal County Sheriff’s Office for their coordinated assistance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, adding that the sheriff extended “our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this tragedy.”
The victims were identified as Lawrence and Buckner, both Payson residents. Authorities have not established publicly who was flying the aircraft at the time of the crash. The circumstances leading up to the accident, including the aircraft’s flight path and what happened immediately before impact, remain under investigation.
Lawrence was well known in the local aviation community. According to FOX 10, he served as vice president of the Payson Pilots Association for nearly three years and was described by fellow pilots as an experienced aviator with a strong passion for flying. “He was a very experienced aviator. He had two airplanes. His own hanger and house beside the hanger, so that gives you an indication of his passion for aviation,” Payson Pilots Association president Kevin McCully told FOX 10.
Lawrence was also involved in aviation outreach. Kevin McCully, president of the Payson Pilots Association said Lawrence had participated in the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, which provides young people with introductory flights to encourage interest in aviation. McCully said he did not believe the fatal flight was part of the Young Eagles program, but suggested Lawrence may have been demonstrating his aircraft and helping Buckner become involved in aviation.
“He loved to travel. Loved his airplane of course. And he was just a wonderful man,” Debbie Snow, a member of Lawrence’s family, told FOX 10 while remembering the longtime pilot. McCully added, “We’re all going to miss him very much.”
The crash investigation is now being led at the federal level by the NTSB, with the FAA assisting. As of the latest available reports, investigators had not released a probable cause, possible mechanical issue, weather factor or other explanation for the crash. Further details are expected as investigators examine the wreckage, aircraft records, flight information and other evidence from the remote crash site.
