# Accident 20020924025999A: Amtr RANSS12, Mercer, MN, September 24, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 24, 2002, 16:00 local time
- Place: Mercer, MN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6750° N, 69.9636° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6750&lon=-69.9636&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7011Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7011Y-2003-06-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Paiement Thomas RANS S-12 AIRAILE (registry code 05623DH, https://openairdocs.org/model/paiement-thomas-rans-s-12-airaile) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RANSS12
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020924025999A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT AND ONLY OCCUPANT OF N7011Y, AN AMATEUR BUILT 1992 PAIEMENT THOMAS RANS S-12 AIRRAILE, COLLIDED WITH A STEEL CABLE THAT SPANS THE SANDY RIVER IN THE TOWN OF MERCER, MAINE. THE FIRST CALL IN REFERENCE TO THE ACCIDENT WAS MADE TO THE MAINE STATE POLICE AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 HRS. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2002. INSPECTORS FROM THE PORTLAND, MAINE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT 1955 HRS. ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED DATE, AND OBSERVED THE WRECKAGE OF N7011Y ENTANGLED WITH A STEEL CABLE APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE BODY OF A WHITE MALE WAS STILL IN THE WRECKAGE AND WAS RESTRAINED IN THE AIRCRAFT SEAT BY THE LAP BELT. THE STEEL CABLE THAT SPANS THE SANDY RIVER IS USED BY THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER RESOURCE DIVISION, A TWO MAN CABLE CART IS USED TO MEASURE WATER FLOW AND DEPTH DURING DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE CABLE AT APPROXIMATELY MID SPAN AND AT THE CABLES' LOWEST HEIGHT WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT 25 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE SANDY RIVER, DEPTH OF THE SANDY RIVER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 FEET, THE CABLE IS SUPPORTED BY TWO TOWERS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE RIVER. THE STEEL CABLE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH IN DIAMETER. AT MEASURED LOCATIONS ALONG THE CABLE THERE ARE ORANGE PAINT MARKS ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES IN LENGTH AT EVERY APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET IN LENGTH, THESE ORANGE MARKINGS ARE NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION BUT FOR SPECIFIC LOCATION POINTS IN ORDER TO MEASURE THE RIVER FLOW AND OTHER TEST CONDUCTED ON THIS RIVER. THE TROOPER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT SCENE AS WELL AS THE ACCIDENT REPORT FILED BY THE MAIN STATE POLICE WAS TR. DIANE A VANCE, TROOP C, 162 WEST FRONT STREET, SKOWHEGAN, MAINE 04976, TELEPHONE 207-624-7076. TROOPER VANCE PHOTOGRAPHED THE ACCIDENT SCENE UPON HER INITIAL ARRIVAL, DURING REMOVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND BODY AND AFTER THE AIRCRAFT AND BODY HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CABLE, THE FILM REELS WERE GIVEN TO INSPECTOR DENNIS TREMBLAY. AIRWORTHINESS SAFETY INSPECTOR DAVID WILKIE OF THE PORTLAND MAINE FSDO, INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND DID NOT FIND ANY MECHANICL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROTAX ENGINE ON THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 NYC02LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA195), Sep 24, 2002: Paiement Rans S-12 (N7011Y), Mercer, ME, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision, and failure to maintain adequate clearance, which resulted in a collision with a wire during a low altitude flight.

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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