- Date
- January 27, 1999, 15:19 local (22:19 UTC)
- Place
- Hyannis, NE
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7188ZPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990127000799A
- Case key
- 45663
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 with the transmission line. Factors associated with the accident were the transmission line, the low altitude at which the pilot was flying, and his diverted attention to a person on the ground.
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 pilot was checking the pastures when he saw a person fishing. He entered a turn to watch the person during which time the airplane contacted a transmission line. The airplane then descended to impact with the terrain. The pilot reported that he was aware of the line, but had forgotten about it.
Factual narrative
On January 27, 1999, at 1519 mountain standard time, a Piper PA- 18-150, N7188Z, operated by a private pilot, collided with powerlines and the terrain, about eight miles southwest of Hyannis, Nebraska. The pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Hyannis, Nebraska.
The pilot reported he was checking the pastures when he saw someone who he recognized fishing. He reported he entered a left turn and was looking at the person holding up fish when the airplane contacted the top of two transmission lines. The airplane then descended to impact with the terrain. One end of the section of wire contacted was suspended from a pole that sits on a hill. The other end is on flat terrain. The span of transmission line that was contacted was approximately 100 feet long. The pilot reported he was aware of the powerline, but that he had forgotten about it.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7188Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8302
- Airframe hours
- 1,906
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Manning Oo Ranches, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 19, 1997 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Hyannis, NE
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,434 total · 1,350 in this make and model · 1,400 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.