- Date
- October 17, 1989, 15:02 local (19:02 UTC)
- Place
- Valdosta, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N172SCCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 18, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891017045059A
- Case key
- 8176
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
Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot (failure to see & avoid the obstruction). Contributing factors were the transmission (power) line and lack of visual cues (pilot's visual perception).
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.
Analysis
While the plt was patrolling a 115 kv power line, the acft flew into a 230 kv line that crossed over the 115 kv line. The plt felt a 'jolt' as the acft struck the 230 kv line, but the acft continued flying. He made a controllability check, then he returned to the arpt & landed without further incident. An exam revealed damage to the left wing tip, vertical stabilizer & rudder.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N172SC
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172-68105
- Airframe hours
- 4,423
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Holland Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Holland Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 1989 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- VDL · Valdosta, GA
- Destination
- VDL · Valdosta, GA
- Airport
- VLD · Valdosta Regional
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,039 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 7,669 as pilot in command · 98 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VLD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N172SC · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.