- Date
- December 8, 2014, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place
- Mount Pleasant, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N787PBCessna 152
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20141208023299A
- Case key
- 90568
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 decision to maneuver the airplane at low altitude resulting in the airplane impacting power lines.
Findings · 4
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 departed the airport for a local flight. During the flight he observed family and friends on the ground and he maneuvered the airplane to overfly them at low altitude. The airplane struck power lines as the pilot set up for the flyover, and both ailerons and outboard portions of each wing separated. The pilot maintained control of the airplane until approaching the airport for landing. When the pilot reduced power to land, the airplane rolled to one side and impacted the ground near the runway. The pilot stated he did not see the wires due to the location of the sun.
Factual narrative
The pilot departed the airport for a local flight. During the flight he observed family and friends on the ground and he maneuvered the airplane to overfly them at low altitude. The airplane struck power lines as the pilot set up for the flyover, and both ailerons and outboard portions of each wing separated. The pilot maintained control of the airplane until approaching the airport for landing. When the pilot reduced power to land, the airplane rolled to one side and impacted the ground near the runway. The pilot stated he did not see the wires due to the location of the sun.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N787PB
- Reported as
- Cessna 152 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15280939
- Built
- 1977
- Airframe hours
- 3,824
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-235 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Capps Aviation Services LLC
- Registered owner
- Capps Aviation Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 24, 2014
- Departed
- OSA · Mount Pleasant, TX
- Destination
- OSA · Mount Pleasant, TX
- Airport
- OSA · Mount Pleasant Rgnl
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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,776 total · 39 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- KOSA, 4 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB 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.