# Accident 20220224002489A: Ross Jonathan RV-8, Pinon, AZ, February 24, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2022, 09:30 local time
- Place: Pinon, AZ
- Airport: Chinle Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1011° N, 110.2504° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1011&lon=-110.2504&mi=10
- Aircraft: N207RV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROSS JONATHAN RV-8
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,191 total, 35 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220224002489A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 24, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:15 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A ROSS JONATHAN MODEL RV8 AIRCRAFT, N207RV IMPACTED A POWER LINE APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF PINON ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FOUR CORNERS REGIONAL, NM (KFMN) IN ROUTE TO ROSAMOND SKY PARK, CA (L00), THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH CROSSED SOUTH OF THE GRAND CANYON AND THEN DIRECT TO THE DESTINATION.  WHILE OPERATING AT 8500 FT. MSL IN A LOOSE FORMATION WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT STATED, ?THE TERRAIN ROSE UP QUICKLY CLOSE TO OUR CURRENT ALTITUDE.?  THE PILOT INDICATED THAT AFTER REFERRING TO A SECTIONAL, MADE THE DECISION TO REMAIN AT THE CURRENT ALTITUDE. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ?CHOSE TO FLY BETWEEN A LINE OF POWER LINES OFF TO MY LEFT THAT FOLLOWED THE ROUTE, AND HIGHER TERRAIN ON MY RIGHT WHICH SEEMED LIKE A SAFE POSITION.?  THE PILOT STATED HE OBSERVED 3 HORIZONTAL POWER LINES STACKED VERTICALLY AND PERPENDICULAR IN THE FLIGHT PATH AND FELT ?A THUMP?. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT REJOINED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED ?THE UPPER PART OF MY VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS MISSING.? THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT PRESCOTT-LOVE FIELD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER, SPINNER AND LEFT WING LEADING EDGE EXHIBITING MARKS CONSISTENT WITH A POWER LINE IMPACT. THE UPPER 14-16 INCHES OF VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WERE SEVERED, THE MISSING SECTIONS WERE NOT RECOVERED.

## 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 WPR22LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA107), Feb 24, 2022: Ross Jonathan RV-8 (N207RV), Pinon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level flight.

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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