# NTSB DEN03LA031: Piper PA-34-200, N16453, Bountiful, UT, January 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2003, 20:45 local (Jan 9, 2003, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Bountiful, UT - Coordinates: 40.869445, -111.927223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8694&lon=-111.9272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56329/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56329 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA031 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines and his improper in flight planning and decision to maneuver on a go around without noting where the power lines were. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inability to see the power lines, the dark night, the fog, and the power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude - low - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot set up for a traffic pattern to runway 16. There was fog observed to the west of the runway, but no fog over the runway. On short final with runway lights in sight and everything going as planned, the pilot said they descended into a patch of fog. The pilot initiated a go around, applying full power, pitching up and making a turn to the east. Seconds later the airplane struck power lines breaking the nose gear rearward and damaging the bottom portions of several airplane bulkheads and stringers aft of the nose gear. The pilot noticed the unsafe gear warning lights and elected to lower the gear. The pilot noted the nose gear light was not lit. The pilot proceeded to another airport and performed an uneventful approach. On landing, the airplane's nose cowling was set down on the runway. The airplane skidded down the runway on its nose cowling until it came to a stop. An examination of the accident area showed broken power poles and downed power lines. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2003, at 2045 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-34-200, N16453, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when the airplane struck power lines during a missed approach into the Bountiful-Sky Park Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger on board the airplane reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Wendover, Utah, at 1900. In his written statement, the pilot said he set up for a traffic pattern for runway 34 at BTF. The pilot said, "When we were about 5 miles out for BTF we could clearly see the beacon light and could make out the fog that appeared to be located west of the runway. On base to final for 34, we noticed fog to the south and proceeded to go around. After flying over the runway, we perceived that the runway was clear and set up for an approach to runway 16. There did not appear to be fog over the runway, or to the north of the runway. At about 2045 on short final for runway 16 with runway lights in sight and everything going as planned, we descended into a patch of fog. We initiated a go around, applying full power and pitching up, and some how we [got] off course on a heading to the east. On the climb out seconds after we went around we struck an object with the aircraft." The pilot said they regained control of the airplane and got the gear and flaps up. He said they turned north to head for Ogden, Utah. En route, the pilot said he noticed the gear warning lights were on so he lowered the gear. The nose gear light was not lit. The pilot said he assumed the nose gear was damaged. The pilot elected to land at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah. An uneventful approach was accomplished. On landing, the airplane's nose cowling was set down on the runway. The airplane skidded down the runway on its nose cowling until it came to a stop. An examination of the accident area showed broken power poles and downed power lines in the area of BTF. The nose gear was found with the downed power lines. It had been broken aft. An examination of the airplane revealed the bottom portions of the bulkheads and stringers aft of the airplane's nose gear were bent and broken aft. The propeller blades were twisted torsionally and bent aft at the tips. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engines, controls, and other systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N16453 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7350146 - Airframe hours: 2848.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: G & B Investment Management - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2002, 32 hours before - Departed: ENV, Wendover, UT - Destination: BTF, Bountiful, UT - Airport: BTF, Bountiful-Skypark Airport, runway 16, 4,700 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; recreational, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 8, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 779 total, 40 in this make and model, 698 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 200 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). - [Accident 20030108000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030108000069A), Jan 8, 2003: Piper PA34200, Bountiful, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 8, 2003, at 2059 MST, Mr. Joseph bennett was pilot in command of a Piper PA-34, N16453, at the Bountiful Skypark airport. He was attempting to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56329. 504 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40177878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40177881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.