ATL06CA100

NTSB accident investigation · Nickel Acro II · Hertford, NC · July 2, 2006

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 2, 2006, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
Place
Hertford, NC
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6NNickel Acro II
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Greensboro FSDO-05
FAA report
20060702017099A
Case key
64035

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The certified flight instructor and commercial pilot receiving instruction failure to maintain a visual look out, resulting in a wire strike on final approach, and collapse of the main landing gear on touchdown.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Object - wire,transmission
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The pilot receiving instruction stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction from the certified flight instructor (CFI) in the tail wheel airplane for insurance purposes. He and the CFI departed earlier in the morning and had conducted touch and go landings at three different airports to include the accident airport before they stopped to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane he and the CFI took off and flew back to the accident airport to do more touch and go landings. The pilot stated, "both my instructor and I were aware of the power lines." They entered the traffic pattern and the pilot made another touch and go landing. The pilot remained in closed traffic, turned final approach for the second touch and go landing, and the airplane collided with the power lines. The power lines separated, the airplane collided with the runway, and collapsed the main landing gear. When asked why the airplane collided with the power lines, the pilot stated, "we simply did not see them on this approach."

Factual narrative

On July 2, 2006, at 1155 eastern daylight time, a Nickel Acro II, N6N, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with power lines and the runway on final approach to runway 22 at Craig Craft Airport, Hertford, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI) received serious injuries, and the commercial pilot receiving flight instruction reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Craig Craft Airport on July 2, 2006, at 1150.

The pilot receiving instruction stated he had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction from the CFI in the tail wheel airplane for insurance purposes. He and the CFI departed earlier in the morning and had conducted touch and go landings at three different airports to include the accident airport before they stopped to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane he and the CFI took off and flew back to the accident airport to do more touch and go landings. The pilot stated, "both my instructor and I were aware of the power lines." They entered the traffic pattern and the pilot made another touch and go landing. The pilot remained in closed traffic, turned final approach for the second touch and go landing, and the airplane collided with the power lines. The power lines separated, the airplane collided with the runway, and collapsed the main landing gear. When asked why the airplane collided with the power lines, the pilot stated, "we simply did not see them on this approach."

Aircraft

Registration
N6N
Reported as
Nickel Acro II
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
459
Engine
Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Eric W. Wright
Registered owner
Gary L. Thomas
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
86NC · Hertford, NC
Destination
86NC · Hertford, NC
Airport
86NC · Craig Craft Airport, runway 22, 2,990 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
48
Injuries
Serious
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Front
Flight hours
3,200 total · 3 in this make and model · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
34
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 1, 2005
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,874 total · 15 in this make and model · 836 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 11 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
30.19 inHg
Observed at
KECG, 15 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2006, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.