19980101000019A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172 · Chandler, AZ · January 1, 1998

Date: January 1, 1998 · 17:48 local
Place: Chandler, AZ
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N20118
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX98FA066
Reported as: Cessna 172
Reported engine: Lycoming O320E2D
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 198 total46 in this make and model11 in the last 90 days

N20118Registration cancelled Oct 2, 1998 · Cessna 172MS/N 17261024 Airframe modelCessna 172M

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)Ground witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude in a straight and level attitude and collide with the power lines during dusk conditions. They reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the collision and none were found during the postaccident examination. (.19) flying low over a canal struck power lines. Exploded and fell to ground inverted. (-23) no acton. Fatal to pilot.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ATTITUDE AND COLLIDE WITH THE POWER LINES DURING DUSK CONDITIONS. THEY REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND NONE WERE FOUND DURING THE POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION. (.19) FLYING LOW OVER A CANAL STRUCK POWER LINES. EXPLODED AND FELL TO GROUND INVERTED. (-23) NO ACTON. FATAL TO PILOT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX98FA066Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportChandler, AZThe pilot's intentional flying at a low altitude and failure to see and avoid the power lines during dusk conditions.Jan 2, 1998 · Destroyed