20180615007939A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Rotan, TX · June 15, 2018

Date: June 15, 2018 · 15:38 local
Place: Rotan, TX
Airport: Fisher County Airport
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N734BS
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN18FA227
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,528 total

N734BSRegistration cancelled Jan 28, 2019 · Cessna 172NS/N 17268731 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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.

On June 15, 2018, at approximately 1538 CDT, N734BS, a Cessna 172N struck a power line and impacted the ground near Rotan, Texas. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight. Visual meterological conditions prevailed at the time and no VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was completely destroyed and the certificated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from spicewood airport (88R) on June 15, 2018.

As the FAA filed it

ON JUNE 15, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 1538 CDT, N734BS, A CESSNA 172N STRUCK A POWER LINE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND NEAR ROTAN, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SPICEWOOD AIRPORT (88R) ON JUNE 15, 2018.

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 CEN18FA227Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRotan, TXThe pilot's reckless decision to conduct low-level flight over a canyon, resulting in the airplane's impact with power lines and terrain.Jun 15, 2018 · Destroyed