# NTSB DEN02LA008: Cessna 140, N76975, Nephi, UT, November 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2001 - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39.680225, -111.829284 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6802&lon=-111.8293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53743/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the transmission wires while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the low altitude flight performed by the pilot. ## Analysis According to the pilot, they were on the last leg of a positioning flight. Due to low temperatures aloft, and a "minimal cabin heater", the pilot decided to maintain an altitude of approximately 800 to 1000 feet above ground level. He was following an interstate highway, and descended to a lower altitude in an attempt to read a highway road mileage sign. A few moments after leveling off, the airplane struck transmission wires. The pilot made an emergency landing on the highway, and taxied to the shoulder to be clear of automobile traffic. The airplane sustained damage to the right side engine cowling, both wing struts, and substantial damage to the windscreen. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2001, at approximately 1230 mountain standard time, a Cessna 140, N76975, was substantially damaged when it struck transmission lines during a low level flight near Nephi, Utah. The commercial flight instructor was not injured, but his commercial flight instructor passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, at approximately 0550. According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), they were delivering the airplane from Falcon Field to Spanish Fork, Utah. They had made three fuel stops, and were on the last leg of the flight. Due to low temperatures aloft, and a "minimal cabin heater", the PIC decided to maintain an altitude of approximately 800 to 1000 feet above ground level. He was following Interstate Highway 15, and descended to a lower altitude in an attempt to read a highway road mileage sign. A few moments after leveling off, the airplane struck transmission wires. The PIC made an emergency landing on the northbound lane of Highway 15, and taxied to the shoulder to be clear of automobile traffic. The airplane sustained damage to the right side engine cowling, both wing struts, and substantial damage to the windscreen. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command - object - wire,transmission - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76975](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76975), registered now, S/N 11421, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11421 - Airframe hours: 5117 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2001, 7 hours before - Departed: RIF, Richfield, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,424 total, 9 in this make and model, 2,314 as pilot in command, 212 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 25, 2001; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.53 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 25 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20011108030809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011108030809I), Nov 8, 2001: Cessna 140, Mona, UT, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft had departed richfield, UT in route to spanish fork, UT when the aircraft clipped a 25 ft. high power wire over I-15 north bound, 30 miles south… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.