# NTSB ATL06CA100: Nickel Acro II, N6N, Hertford, NC, July 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2006, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Hertford, NC - Coordinates: 36.26361, -76.493331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2636&lon=-76.4933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 64035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64035/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64035 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA100 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Gear collapsed, landing - 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Nickel Acro II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 459 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: serious; 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 - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060702017099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060702017099A), Jul 2, 2006: Amtr ACROSPORTII, Hertford, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) The instructor [privacy data omitted] was giving duel instruction to the pilot [privacy data omitted] who was occupying the rear seat of the tandem seat… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2006, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64035. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot Operator Report (item 1, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operator%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 View of airplane at rest. Photo by FAA. (item 2, .PDF, 700 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40263542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20View%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20by%20FAA.-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.