# Accident 19980206003599A: Cessna 172M, Port Lavaca, TX, February 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 1998, 10:00 local time
- Place: Port Lavaca, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.6090° N, 96.6210° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6090&lon=-96.6210&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5207R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5207R-2004-10-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,659 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980206003599A

## Narrative

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

STRUCK POWER LINES DURING AERIAL OBSERVATION. AIRCRAFT WAS CHECKING POWERLINES DURING POWER OUTAGE. (.4) THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES DURING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING THE POWER LINE (AIRCRAFT ENGINE AT FULL POWER), ENTER A CLIMBING TURN, SPIN TO THE LEFT, AND DESCENT TOWARD THE GROUND. WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT 20 GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS DISPATCHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT FOR THE COMPANY. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED COMPANY TRAINING IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS SAID THAT THE PILOT NEEDED 'SITUATIONAL AWARENESS' WHEN FLYING THE POWER LINES, AND ON THE NTSB FROM 6120.1/2 THE OPERATOR RECOMMENDED 'IMPROVING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND TRAINING'. THE PASSENGER/OBSERVER STATED THAT THE 'POWER LINE TURNED, THE [AIR]PLANE DIDN'T TURN, THE PILOT NEVER SAW THE LINE'. THE OBSERVER REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE WIRE. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THERE WERE NO PRE-IMPACT DISCREPANCIES FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD PRECLUDE FULL POWER ENGINE OPERATION PRIOR TO IMPACT. (-23) ON 02/06/98 AT 1000 CST, A CESSNA 172M N5207R, STRUCK POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING 5 MILES SOUTH OF PORT LAVACA, TEXAS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED VICTORIA, TEXAS, AT 0930. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 FTW98LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA122), Feb 6, 1998: Cessna 172M (N5207R), Port Lavaca, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line. Factors were the gusty winds, the pilots lack of experience in the type of operation, inadequate training and insufficient…

## Other reports on N5207R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870224029029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870224029029I), Feb 24, 1987: Cessna 172M (N5207R), Falfurrias, TX, Minor damage. Engine caught fire during start. Engine had been flooded.

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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