- Date
- August 13, 1995, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place
- Hammondsville, OH
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N35KKBirdman Enterprises Chinook 2S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950813028549A
- Case key
- 9073
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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from obstacles (power lines) in his flight path.
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
The pilot reported that during the accident flight he was '...following the course of yellow creek just to enjoy the beauty of it.' He stated that the airplane was below the elevation of hills on either side of the creek when it collided with power lines in its flight path. The aircraft then '...fell straight down into yellow creek.' The pilot stated he did not see the power lines or towers that would indicate the presence of power lines before the collision.
Factual narrative
On August 13, 1995, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Birdman Enterprises, Inc. Chinook 2S ultralight, N35KK, sustained substantial damage when it struck powerlines and descended into a creek near Hammondsville, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local pleasure flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Toronto, Ohio, at 1900 eastern daylight time.
The pilot reported that during the accident flight he was "...following the course of Yellow Creek just to enjoy the beauty of it...below the elevation of the hills on either side of the creek... ." He stated that he was looking for towers that would indicate the presence of power lines, but he "...did not see any before I collided with a 69000 volt power line that crossed my path." The airplane impacted the wire, then dropped to the ground, and came to rest in the creek. The pilot reported that there were no restrictions to visibility, and recommended that "Power lines be made more visible."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N35KK
- Reported as
- Birdman Enterprises Chinook 2S
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 00662
- Airframe hours
- 570
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 48 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bob A. Kuck
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 13, 1995 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- IG8 · Toronto, OH
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 900 total · 500 in this make and model · 850 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HLG, 23 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.