# Accident 20141024019179A: Stephenson Wilbur R STOL CH 701, Mt. Vernon, IN, October 24, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 2014, 17:11 local time
- Place: Mt. Vernon, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9039° N, 87.7903° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9039&lon=-87.7903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34WS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34WS-2016-11-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stephenson Wilbur R STOL CH 701 (registry code 056173V, https://openairdocs.org/model/stephenson-wilbur-r-stol-ch-701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEPHENSON WILBUR R STOL CH 701
- Reported engine: ROTAX SEE BOMBADIER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA026) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141024019179A

## Narrative

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

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^

## 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 CEN15LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA026), Oct 24, 2014: Stephenson Stol CH 701 (N34WS), Mount Vernon, IN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s impairment due to the ingestion of alcohol and sedating medications, which led to her improper decision to conduct low-level flight, affected her ability to safety operate the airplane,…

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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