What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 24, 2014, at approximately 1811 eastern daylight time (EDT), N34WS, a zenith CH-701 experimental amatuer built aircraft, crashed into power wires while manuvering over a farm field approximately ten (10) miles south east of the carmi municipal airport (kcul).
The private pilot onboard (PIC) was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The airplane was registered to the occupant (PIC) and was being operated under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed or required.
The flight originated from a private grass strip (3IN9) located approximatly 7.5 miles southeast of carmi municipal airport (kcul).
A witness stated that the aircraft was flying at a very low altitude (approximatly 30 feet) heading east adjacent to crab orchard road and flew within 50 feet of his tractor. The aircraft then made a sharp right hand turn heading south crossing crab orchard road and came in contact with the power lines located parallel to the road. The contact with the power lines caused a spark and the aircraft ignited and hung on the power wires for several seconds. The aircraft then dropped to the ground and was fully ingulfed in flames. The witness contacted 911 and awaited emergency equipment arrival.
privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 24, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 1811 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), N34WS, A ZENITH CH-701 EXPERIMENTAL AMATUER BUILT AIRCRAFT, CRASHED INTO POWER WIRES WHILE MANUVERING OVER A FARM FIELD APPROXIMATELY TEN (10) MILES SOUTH EAST OF THE CARMI MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KCUL).
THE PRIVATE PILOT ONBOARD (PIC) WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO THE OCCUPANT (PIC) AND WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED OR REQUIRED.
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP (3IN9) LOCATED APPROXIMATLY 7.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CARMI MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KCUL).
A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE (APPROXIMATLY 30 FEET) HEADING EAST ADJACENT TO CRAB ORCHARD ROAD AND FLEW WITHIN 50 FEET OF HIS TRACTOR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN HEADING SOUTH CROSSING CRAB ORCHARD ROAD AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES LOCATED PARALLEL TO THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES CAUSED A SPARK AND THE AIRCRAFT IGNITED AND HUNG ON THE POWER WIRES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND WAS FULLY INGULFED IN FLAMES. THE WITNESS CONTACTED 911 AND AWAITED EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ARRIVAL.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.