# NTSB DEN05TA033: Piper PA-18-150, N734, Jal, NM, December 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: December 1, 2004, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Jal, NM - Coordinates: 32.064998, -103.558334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0650&lon=-103.5583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Disctrict Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05TA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60692/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05TA033 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines. Contributing factors include the power lines, the sun glare, the pilot's reduced visual lookout, the pilot’s improper in-flight planning and decision making and the pilot's failure to perform a go-around procedure after losing sight of 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, landing - object - wire,static (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot elected to land on a paved road after circling three times to "check for obstacles and hazards." The pilot noted the power lines and "planned [his] final approach well above the power lines." During the final approach, the pilot lost sight of the power lines "due to the early morning sun." The main landing gear impacted one of the lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted in a nose down attitude causing substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On December 1, 2004, at 0740 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N734, operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a power line while landing on Delaware Basin Road, 20 nautical miles west of Jal, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated from Roswell, New Mexico, at approximately 0635. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was en route to Brininstool Ranch to pick up a United States Department of Agriculture specialist. The ranch roads normally used for landing were muddy and lined with high vegetation. The pilot elected to land on Delaware Basin Road after circling the road three times to "check for obstacles and hazards." The pilot noted the power lines and "planned [his] final approach well above the power lines." During the final approach, the pilot lost sight of the power lines "due to the early morning sun." The main landing gear impacted one of the lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude, damaging the propeller and collapsing the main landing gear. The airplane came to a rest on the west side of the road. Both wing struts were bent aft longitudinally and the firewall was crushed and wrinkled. A postaccident examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734), registered now, S/N 18-5258, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5258 - Airframe hours: 6470 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: United States Department of Agriculture - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 2004, 45 hours before - Departed: ROW, Roswell, NM - Destination: Brininstool Ran, NM - Airport: Na ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 25, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 15,589 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 15,380 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: INK, 21 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 20041201029629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041201029629A), Dec 1, 2004: Piper PA18150, Jal, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 1, 2004, at approximately 0740 mountain standard time (MST), N734, a Piper PA-18-150 aircraft, struck an abandoned power line during landing… 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.