# NTSB ERA21FA165: Aviat A-1, N800MH, Cave Spring, GA, March 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report
- Date: March 29, 2021, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Cave Spring, GA
- Coordinates: 34.119021, -85.313169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1190&lon=-85.3132&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Lycoming Engines
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21FA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102831/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102831
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA165

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a power line.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A witness reported the pilot was circling low over his house and waving at him. The pilot circled for about 5 minutes then departed the area. As he watched the airplane head north, it collided with a power line, resulting in a loss of electrical power to nearby residences and a brush fire. The airplane pitched down abruptly and descended into a ravine where it collided with the ground about 500 ft from the location of the power line. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 29, 2021, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Aviat Husky A-1, N800MH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cave Springs, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot, who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness in the area, the pilot was circling low over his house and waving at him. He said that after circling for about 5 minutes, the airplane departed the area. As he watched the airplane head north, it collided with a power line. The airplane pitched down abruptly and descended into a ravine, where it collided with the ground. He said the broken power line “knocked out” the power, and a brush fire started because of the power line contacting the dry brush. The witness said he rushed down the ravine to assist the pilot and contacted the local authorities. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Assessment of the wreckage site revealed that a power line was struck above the ravine where the airplane came to rest. The power line was broken and was about 500 ft aft of the airplane wreckage. All flight control components were located at the wreckage site. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe, and both wing assemblies. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia, performed an autopsy on the pilot. His cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide and drugs.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N800MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800MH-2022-09-07), registration cancelled 2022-09-07, S/N 1210, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT INC A-1
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1210
- Year built: 1992
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PVT, Centre, AL
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 24,000 total, 95 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: RMG, 16 nm away
- METAR: KRMG 292153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/M02 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02001017

## 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 20210329004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210329004549A), Mar 29, 2021: Aviat Inc A-1, Cave Spring, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 03/29/2021 at approximately 17:54 eastern standard time, N800MH, an Aviat husky A1, s/n 1210, crashed in Cave Spring, GA after striking a power line. The…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102831. 5.7 MB in all.

- Witness interview (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15439487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20LA165%20witness%20interviews%20v3_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airframe and engine examination FA165 (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15167487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20examination%20FA165-Rel.pdf
- Mfr Georgia power correspondence (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15178668&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21FA165%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15178383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20FA165-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox%20FA165_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Autopsy summary (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15432472&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20MFR%20summary%20FA165-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 551 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form%20FA165_Redacted-Rel.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.

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