- Date
- May 12, 1985, 21:05 local (May 13, 1985, 02:05 UTC)
- Place
- Odessa, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N737ZLCessna 182RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850512016479A
- Case key
- 21548
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While flying at approx 100' AGL, the acft struck a 5/8' static line on a newly constructed powerline. The cable was not yet anchored, except with pulley's on each tower and had about two miles of slack. The wire engaged the left front eng cowl and 1 prop blade. The cable was pulled down almost to the ground and when it backlashed it shattered a telephone pole, the acft impacted on the median of an interstate. Witnesses had observed the acft maneuvering at low altitude in the area for several minutes prior to the accident. The accident occurred at dusk, with the pilot flying southwest into the remaining sun light. Conditions would have made observation of the cable extremely difficult.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N737ZL
- Reported as
- Cessna 182RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R18200899
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-J3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Leon Miles
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 25, 1985
- Departed
- E02
- Airport
- E02 · Schlemeyer
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 25 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MAF, 20 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.