# Accident 19991201045059A: Beech B19, Grand Coulee, WA, December 1, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 1999, 17:05 local time
- Place: Grand Coulee, WA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 47.9722° N, 119.0398° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from the FAA’s distance and direction from , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9722&lon=-119.0398&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4617M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4617M-2000-02-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech B19 (registry code 1151215, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B19
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA00LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991201045059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE A/C, A BEECH-19 WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY DUAL INSTRUCTION FLIGHT AFTER DEPARTING FROM MOSES LAKE, WA. OVER MANSFIELD AIRPORT, THE INSTRUCTOR DIVERTED THE STUDENT TO GRAND COULEE, ELECTRIC CITY AIRPORT, FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLETING LESSON 4 NAVIGATION, PILOTAGE AND LOST PROCEDURES. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, AND IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT AT THE CONTROLS REPORTED SEEING THE "ORANGE BALL" LOCATED ON THE STATIC WIRES ON THE HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES, JUST PRIOR TO STRIKING THEM. THE BALL BROKE OFF THE STATIC WIRE AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE A/C HAD THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING TORN THROUGH AND A SIX FOOT PIECE OF WING SHEARED OFF, DROPPING TO THE GROUND JUST BELOW THE 250 FOOT HIGH TOWER THAT SUPPORTED THE POWER LINES. AT THAT POINT, THE TAIL SECTION JUST AFT OF THE REAR SEATS, AT THE BULKHEAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE A/C AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE REMAINING FUSELAGE FELL THROUGH THE REST OF THE WIRES AND HIT THE GROUND SPINNER FIRST. THE TWO PILOTS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

## 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 SEA00LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA027), Dec 2, 1999: Beech B-19 (N4617M), Grand Coulee, WA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines. Factors include dark night 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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