# Accident 19990220001599A: Piper J5A, Rexburg, ID, February 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 20, 1999, 13:29 local time
- Place: Rexburg, ID
- Airport: Rexburg-Madison County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7794° N, 111.7592° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7794&lon=-111.7592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28123, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28123) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J5A (registry code 7100702, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990220001599A

## Narrative

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

ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE AND CRASHED. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. ON FEBRUARY 20, 1999, ABOUT 1329 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER J-5A,N28123, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT AS A 14CFR 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER COLLIDING WITH POWER LINES NEAR REXBURG, IDAHO. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO FIRE AND NO REPORT OF AN ELT ACTUATING. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE REXBURG-MADISON COUNTY AIRPORT, REXBURG, IDAHO, APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STRUCK A SET OF POWER LINES WHILE FLYING OVER A FRIENDS HOUSE. THE PILOT THEN STATED THAT HE DIDN'T SEE THE POWER LINES UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID THEM. AFTER STRIKING THE POWER LINES, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD, DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABLIZER. THE POWER LINES WERE APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET ABOVE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO  COLLIDING WITH THE POWER LINES.                                                   (-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOOK OFF FROM REXBURG, IDAHO FOR ASHTEN, IDAHO, WHILE HE DECIDED TO TAKE AN AERIAL PICTURE OF HIS FRIEND'S HOUSE. HE HIT A POWER LINE, DAMAGED THE VERTICAL FIN, AND LOST RUDDER CONTROL. ^PRIVACY DAT^ FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD 20 FEET OFF THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THERIGHT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 SEA99LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA036), Feb 20, 1999: Piper J-5A (N28123), Rexburg, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

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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