# Accident 20031016025899A: Cessna 150M, Wax, KY, October 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2003, 19:00 local time
- Place: Wax, KY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3331° N, 86.1231° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3331&lon=-86.1231&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3807V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3807V-2013-08-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Reported engine: CONT O200*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031016025899A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2003, AT ABOUT 7 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A RENTED CESSNA 150-M, #N3807V, SERIAL #15076628 WAS DESTROYED AFTER CONTACTING A 250 FOOT (ABOVE WATER LINE) POWER LINE EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY 280 YARDS ACROSS NOLIN LAKE IN WAX, KY. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST SUBMERGED IN 21 FEET OF WATER IN NOLIN LAKE. THE 48-YEAR-OLD CERTIFICATED PILOT AND THE 41-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM VINE GROVE, KY (70KY) AIRPORT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT LEFT VINE GROVE AIRPORT OCTOBER 16, AT APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME AND WAS PLANNING ON A SIGHT SEEING TOUR OF THE FALL FOLIAGE AND THEN CONTINUING HIS FLIGHT TO OWENSBORO, KY TO HAVE DINNER AT AN OWENSBORO BARBEQUE RESTAURANT. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2003, FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED TO THE AIRCRAFT OWNER THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD NOT RETURNED FROM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. A SEARCH WAS IMMEDIATELY INITIATED FOR THE MISSING AIRCRAFT AND OCCUPANTS. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1757 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, THE CIVIL AIR PATROL PICKED UP THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER SIGNAL. A DIVE CREW LOCATED THE SUBMERGED AIRCRAFT AND OCCUPANTS IN NOLIN LAKE AT COORDINATES 37 19.994 N/ 86 07.389W. ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2003, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE VINE GROVE, KY AIRPORT (70KY) FOR FURTHER EXAMINAION. ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2003, FEDERAL AVIATION INSPECTORS AND A SENIOR AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATOR FOR CESSNA AIRCRAFT BEGAN EXAMINING THE WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT SHOWED MARKINGS CONSISTENT WITH WIRE STRIKE.

## 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 NYC04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA011), Oct 16, 2003: Cessna 150M (N3807V), Wax, KY, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Low altitude flight is a contributing factor.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.