# Accident 20030904021999A: Trytek 65CA, Polson, MT, September 4, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2003, 05:58 local time
- Place: Polson, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6667° N, 114.2167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6667&lon=-114.2167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33865, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33865-2006-09-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 65-CA (registry code 0190922, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-ca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRYTEK 65CA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030904021999A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 AT 05:58 LOCAL TIME, AN AIRCRAFT (N33865) STRUCK A 16 KV, THREE STRAND SET OF POWER LINES, 6 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE POLSON, MONTANA AIRPORT. THE 51 YEAR OLD, MALE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM THE ENSUING CRASH, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. GROUND LEVEL ELEVATION AT THE CRASH SITE WAS 3226' AND THE POWER LINES THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK WERE AT A HEIGHT OF 40' AGL. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE HOT SPRINGS, MONTANA AIRPORT, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE PILOT HAD NOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN AND THE INTENDED DESTINATION IS UNKNOWN. VISIBILITY AT THE POLSON AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED AS 3-5 MILES IN SMOKE. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE, THE AIRCRAFT BRUSHED THE FIRST TWO STRANDS OF THE POWER LINES, CAUSING THE LANDING GEAR TO BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE THIRD STRAND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SEVERED THE THIRD LINE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO IMPACT THE GROUND A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT WITH THE LINES. THE ENGINE ON THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEVELOPING NORMAL POWER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.

## 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 SEA03LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA185), Sep 4, 2003: Aeronca 65-CA (N33865), Polson, MT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object while maneuvering and alcohol impairment. Transmission wires, dark night conditions, and drug impairment were factors.

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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