# NTSB CHI94LA246: Cessna 140, N9409A, Lomax, IL, July 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1994, 16:07 local (21:07 UTC)
- Place: Lomax, IL
- Coordinates: 40.670101, -91.069923 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6701&lon=-91.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9610/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA246

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission wire, and the pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate altitude. A factor associated with the accident is the transmission wire.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE AND HIS PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WERE FLYING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN UNSEEN AND UNMARKED POWER LINE. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY WENT INTO THE RIVER, AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE RESCUED BY BOATERS. ACCORDING TO A POLICE OFFICER WHO INTERVIEWED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER JUST AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THEY SAID THEY WERE JUST FLYING ALONG THE RIVER, WAVING AT PEOPLE AND HAVING FUN. A POWER COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE HEIGHT OF THE TWO POLES WHICH SUPPORTED THE POWER LINE WAS ABOUT 60'; HE SAID THE HEIGHT OF THE WIRE WHICH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 45-50'.

## Factual narrative

On July 27, 1994, about 1607 central daylight time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N9409A, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a transmission wire and then fell into the Mississippi River near Lomax, Illinois.  The Airline Transport certificated pilot and pilot-rated passenger aboard received minor injuries.  The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions.

The pilot reported that he and the airplane owner/passenger had departed Grove, Oklahoma about 1230 en route to Moline, Illinois.  While flying along the Mississippi River, the airplane collided with unseen and unmarked power lines.  The airplane subsequently went into the river, and the pilot and passenger exited the airplane and were picked up by a boater.

According to the State Trooper who interviewed the pilots shortly after the accident, they said words to the effect that they were flying along the river, just having fun and waving at people when they struck the wire.  A power company representative said the height of the two power poles supporting the power line was approximately 60 feet; he said the height of the power line the airplane struck was approximately 45-50 feet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9409A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9409A-1997-03-21), registration cancelled 1997-03-21, S/N 15230 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15230
- Airframe hours: 15544
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-14F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Martin R. Clarke
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1993, 48 hours before
- Departed: 1H7, GROVE, OK
- Destination: MOL, MOLINE, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,200 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,840 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19940727020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940727020139A), Jul 27, 1994: Cessna 140A, Lomax, IL, Destroyed. Struck powerline and fell into river.

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.