# NTSB CEN09CA037: Cessna R172E, N42FG, Palo Pinto, TX, October 26, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 26, 2008, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Palo Pinto, TX - Coordinates: 32.720001, -98.224441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7200&lon=-98.2244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 69360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69360/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA037 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional low-level flight and failure to maintain a visual lookout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, his "intention was just to exercise the engine and aircraft for an hour." He flew a circular route and was returning when the airplane collided with two power lines that stretched across the river between two cliffs. He said, "[t]he terrain [was] hilly but desolate and I decided to get a closer look at the animals that were in the Brazos River bottom. Two power lines ran from the top of one cliff to another and were struck. They were on 40 foot power poles and 112 feet above the riverbed. They had a 900 foot span and no markers." ## Factual narrative On October 26, 2008, approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N42FG, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it struck power lines and impacted terrain a river approximately 7 miles southeast of Palo Pinto, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The flight originated from Hicks Airfield (T67), Fort Worth, Texas, approximately 1230. According to the pilot's accident report, his "intention was just to exercise the engine and aircraft for an hour." He flew southwest to Mineral Wells, then turned to return to T67. He wrote, "The terrain [was] hilly but desolate and I decided to get a closer look at the animals that were in the Brazos River bottom. Two power lines ran from the top of one cliff to another and were struck. They were on 40 foot power poles and 112 feet above the riverbed. They had a 900 foot span and no markers." The pilot was medevac to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. In his accident report, the pilot indicated that his last medical certificate was dated January 23, 1998, and that his last biennial flight review was dated June 15, 1999. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot voluntarily surrendered his pilot certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42FG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42FG-2010-02-22), registration cancelled 2010-02-22, S/N R1720177 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0177 - Airframe hours: 7034 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steven M. Toft - Registered owner: Steven M. Toft - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2007, 22 hours before - Departed: T67, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: T67, Fort Worth, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review June 15, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 571 total, 496 in this make and model, 525 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MWL, 14 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 20081026850749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081026850749A), Oct 26, 2008: Cessna R172E, Palo Pinto, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On October 26, 2008, at approximately 1455 local, N42FG, a Cessna R172E aircraft was destroyed after contacting powerlines causing the aircraft to impact… ## Other investigations on N42FG (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX84LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA347), Jun 10, 1984: Cessna R172E (N42FG), Payson, AZ, substantial damage 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.