- Date
- October 10, 2010, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lonsdale, MN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N157SBMartin Curtis Zenair CH701 SP
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20101010049949A
- Case key
- 77533
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 clearance from a power line while on approach to land.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he departed from his private airstrip with a passenger for a local flight. Upon returning for landing, his neighbor was operating a combine harvester in a soybean field near the runway threshold. The pilot extended his traffic pattern to allow time for the machine to move out of the runway approach path. However, upon turning back toward the runway, the machine had not moved as far as he had expected. The pilot stated that at that point the airplane struck a power line. It subsequently came to rest upside down and was destroyed during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he departed from his private airstrip (850 feet by 70 feet, turf) with a passenger for a local flight. Upon returning for landing, his neighbor was operating a combine in a soybean field near the runway threshold. The pilot extended his traffic pattern to allow time for the combine to move out of the runway approach path. However, upon turning back toward the runway, the combine had not moved as far as he had expected. The pilot stated it was at that point the airplane struck a power line. It subsequently came to rest upside down and was destroyed during the accident sequence. Both the pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane. They sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N157SB
- Reported as
- Martin Curtis Zenair CH701 SP
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-9669
- Airframe hours
- 449
- Engine
- Rotax 912 UL, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 29, 2010
- Departed
- PVT · Lonsdale, MN
- Destination
- PVT · Lonsdale, MN
- Airport
- PVT · Private, runway 23, 850 × 70 ft, grass/turf
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
- 66
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 29, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 566 total · 449 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- LVN, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 832 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.