# NTSB ERA21LA193: Textron 208B, N143CA, Laceyville, PA, April 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 26, 2021, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Laceyville, PA · Powerline struck across body of water - Coordinates: 41.63403, -76.200385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6340&lon=-76.2004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA193 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to conduct a low altitude flight and his failure to see and avoid powerlines. Contributing was the operator’s lack of safety guidance or a safety policy for low-altitude operations. ## 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: [Textron 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Policy/procedure: availability of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073712), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The two pilots and the three passengers were enroute to a business meeting in the amphibious airplane when they encountered clouds and turbulence. The pilot, copilot, and passengers described that the pilot descended to a lower altitude and flew along a riverbed, at times at an altitude that was below the surrounding trees and terrain. The pilot stated that he next planned on doing a touch-and-go landing on the river to entertain the passengers. One of the passengers said that while flying along the river, the pilots were concerned about hitting powerlines and had to maneuver to prevent hitting them and a bridge. Shortly after, as the pilots were following a sharp bend in the river while looking for a place to conduct a touch-and-go landing, the airplane’s right wing stuck a power line. The airplane’s right wing and aileron were substantially damaged, though the damage did not prohibit the airplane from being able to fly, and the pilot characterized that the airplane felt out of trim and “a little heavier on one side.” The flight continued towards their destination and a subsequent conversation ensued between the pilot and the passengers, asking if the meeting could be missed, and if they should return to their departure airport, about 45 minutes away. The decision was made to return to the departure airport where the airplane landed without further incident. The pilot elected not to perform a precautionary landing at a nearby airport nor declare an emergency because the airplane appeared to be performing well. The operator stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that contributed to the accident. Further, the operator did not have any guidance or policies relating to low-altitude maneuvering with passengers onboard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N143CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N143CA), registered now, S/N 208B5516, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 208B - Registry model: [Textron 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-208b) (registry code 2073712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-140) (registry code 51499, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B5516 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 222 - Engines: P&W PT6-A-140 1018 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Haugland Group Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Haugland Group Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 8, 2021 - Departed: CKZ, Perkasie, PA - Destination: IPS, Long Island, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 51 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,450 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,370 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 3009.00 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 30 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 20210426009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210426009669A), Apr 26, 2021: Textron Aviation Inc 208B, Laceyville, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed pennridge airport (ckz) , in perkasie pa, and was enroute to williamson- sodus airport (sdc), williamson-sodus, NY. The pilot descended out… ## Other investigations on N143CA (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA24LA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA372), Sep 4, 2024: Textron 208B (N143CA), New York, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to rush his departure, which resulted in a rough water encounter and collision with the wake of a passing ferry boat. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102981. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12586309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operators%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot and copilot (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12598929&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20and%20Copilot-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_three passengers (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12595195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_%20Three%20Passengers-Rel.pdf - Accident site overview (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12600446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Overview-Rel.pdf - Police report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12588683&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GI-PA21-553244%20%20AIRPLANE%20IN%20LACEYVILLE_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array - airplane damage and accident site (item 6, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12588595&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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. --- 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.