# NTSB CEN09CA479: Piper PA28-151, N41930, Purcell, OK, July 31, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2009, 20:30 local (Jul 31, 2009, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Purcell, OK - Coordinates: 34.992778, -97.342224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9928&lon=-97.3422&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 December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 74412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA479 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74412/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74412 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA479 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to see and avoid the power lines. ## 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: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he had practiced a simulated loss of engine power to a field near the Canadian River. After finishing the practice approach, witnesses observed the airplane flying north to south about 30 feet above the river. They observed the airplane climb and fly over the East Washington Street Bridge, which spans the river between Purcell, Oklahoma and Lexington, Oklahoma. The airplane then descended back down into the river bottom, hit power lines that crossed over the river, and then came to rest in the river about one mile south of the bridge. Portions of the horizontal stabilizer and the wing had separated from the fuselage. The pilot was seriously injured. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated he had practiced a simulated loss of engine power to a field near a river. After finishing the practice approach, witnesses observed the airplane flying north to south about 30 feet above the river. They observed the airplane climb and fly over a bridge, which spaned a river. The airplane then descended and hit power lines that crossed over the river. The airplane came to rest in the river about one mile south of the bridge. Portions of the horizontal stabilizer and the wing had separated from the fuselage. The pilot was seriously injured. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41930](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41930-2013-04-17), registration cancelled 2013-04-17, S/N 28-7415361, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7415361 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: 1K4, Goldsby, OK - Destination: 1K4, Goldsby, OK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 7 total, 7 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20090730013149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090730013149A), Jul 30, 2009: Piper PA28151, Purcell, OK, Destroyed. (-23) Airman was flying at a low level down the canadian river when the landing gear impacted with power lines running east to west. The landing gear was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74412. 93 KB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-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.