# NTSB ATL96LA058: Piper PA-24, N7913P, Livingston, TN, March 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 1996, 12:33 local (18:33 UTC) - Place: Livingston, TN - Coordinates: 36.380458, -85.320236 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3805&lon=-85.3202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3700/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA058 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid obstructions (electrical lines), while on final approach to land after encountering icing conditions and diverting to a new destination (alternate airport). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - icing conditions - flight to new destination - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis During an instrument flight rules flight from Wheeling, Illinois, to Athens, Georgia, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions and elected to make a precautionary landing at Livingston, Tennessee. He stated that while on final approach, he failed to see electrical wires and telephone poles at the approach end of the runway. The airplane struck the wires, then collided with the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulty with the airplane during the flight. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 1996, about 1233 central standard time, a Piper PA- 24, N7913P, was substantially damaged following a collision with an electrical line, and the terrain, during an approach to landing at Livingston Municipal Airport, Livingston Tennessee. The commercial pilot was not injured in the accident. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was in effect for the flight. The flight departed Wheeling, Illinois at 0845, and was enroute to Athens, Georgia. During the flight through Tennessee, the flight encountered severe icing conditions, and the pilot elected to divert to the Livingston Municipal Airport. The pilot executed an instrument approach into the airport. During the approach, when the pilot selected the landing gear to the extended position, the landing gear failed to extend. In visual flight rules flight conditions, the pilot circled the airport several times, and manually lowered the landing gear. After the gear was down and locked, the pilot attempted to execute a visual approach to the runway. According to the pilot, he failed to see, and avoid the power lines between two telephone poles at the approach end of runway 3. The aircraft struck the power lines approximately 300 feet before the approach end of the runway, and then impacted the ground 70 feet short of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7913P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7913P-2001-03-19), registration cancelled 2001-03-19, S/N 24-3144 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3144 - Airframe hours: 3548 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-AID5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Consolidated Cutlery Co. Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1995, 79 hours before - Departed: PWK, WHEELING, IL - Destination: AHN, ATHENS, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 8A3, Livingston, runway 3, 2,998 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,880 total, 90 in this make and model, 1,880 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: 8A3 ## 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 19960307012169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960307012169A), Mar 7, 1996: Piper PA24250, Livingston, TN, Substantial damage. Problems with gear on approach. Circled. Pumped gear down. Struck wires short off runway and impacted short. 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.