- Date
- May 15, 2007, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- English, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7772ECessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070515011369A
- Case key
- 65880
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 inadequate preflight planning due to his decision to takeoff downwind, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power line. Contributing factors to the accident were the power line and the trees.
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 airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a power line and collided with trees following takeoff from a private grass field. The pilot attempted to takeoff to the north. He stated that after lifting off approximately half way down the field (1200 feet by 40 feet, turf), the airplane encountered a tailwind and he felt that he did not have enough engine power to out climb the approaching power line. The tail wheel snagged the power line and the airplane subsequently impacted a group of trees. The pilot noted that there were no malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. He added that "the engine appeared to be running normally and producing normal power." Wind conditions reported in the vicinity of the accident site were from 220 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a power line and collided with trees following takeoff from a private grass field. The pilot attempted to takeoff to the north. He stated that after lifting off approximately half way down the field (1200 feet by 40 feet, turf), the airplane encountered a tailwind and he felt that he did not have enough engine power to out climb the approaching power line. The tail wheel snagged the power line and the airplane subsequently impacted a group of trees. The pilot noted that there were no malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. He added that "the engine appeared to be running normally and producing normal power." Wind conditions reported in the vicinity of the accident site were from 220 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7772E
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17572
- Airframe hours
- 3,200
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Piper Services Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2005
- Departed
- I42 · Paoli, IN
- Destination
- PVT · English, IN
- Airport
- PVT · Harden, runway 36, 1,200 × 40 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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 25 in this make and model · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- HNB, 22 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.