# Accident 19980101000019A: Cessna 172, Chandler, AZ, January 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 1998, 17:48 local time
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3198° N, 111.8708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3198&lon=-111.8708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20118, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20118-1998-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 198 total, 46 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980101000019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA066), Jan 2, 1998: Cessna 172M (N20118), Chandler, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's intentional flying at a low altitude and failure to see and avoid the power lines during dusk conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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