20170708007979A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper L-21B · Big Timber, MT · July 8, 2017

Date: July 8, 2017 · 12:00 local
Place: Big Timber, MT
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N99031
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA145
Reported as: Piper L-21B
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-290 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N99031Registered now · Piper PA-18-135S/N 18-3990 · Built 1954 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-135 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft departed the Big Timber airport (6S0) headed eastward along the yellowstone river at a low altitude. Aircraft struck power lines traversing the river approximately 3 mile east of Big Timber, 1/4 mile east of the otter creek fishing access.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE BIG TIMBER AIRPORT (6S0) HEADED EASTWARD ALONG THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER AT A LOW ALTITUDE. AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES TRAVERSING THE RIVER APPROXIMATELY 3 MILE EAST OF BIG TIMBER, 1/4 MILE EAST OF THE OTTER CREEK FISHING ACCESS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR17LA145Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBig Timber, MTThe pilot's decision to fly at low altitude in the vicinity of power lines, which resulted in a wire strike.Jul 8, 2017 · Substantial damage