- Date
- October 27, 1994, 19:45 local (Oct 28, 1994, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Midlothian, TX
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N86781Bellanca 14-13-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19295
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's misjudgment of altitude and distance to the runway, while on final approach to land, and his failure to ensure altitude and clearance from obstacles, while allowing the student pilot to be on the controls. Darkness was a related factor.
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
The pilot-in-command (pic/private pilot) and student pilot were on an approach to runway 18 with the student at the controls. While on final approach approximately 1-1/4 miles short of the runway, they noticed the aircraft was low. Power was applied to initiate a climb; however, the aircraft contacted the top cable of a power line, then 'struck the ground in a nose down, left wing tip (low) attitude.' Both pilots reported that the student was at the controls when the accident occurred. Toxicology tests performed on the PIC and student pilot detected positive levels of cannabinoids in the urine. The FAA regional flight surgeon was consulted regarding drug related impairment. He was unable to make a determination. Both pilots' medical certificates were expired. The PIC did not have a current biennial flight review.
Factual narrative
On October 27, 1994, at 1945 central daylight time, a Bellanca 14-13-2, N86781, was substantially damaged during landing near Midlothian, Texas. The private pilot in command and the student pilot sustained serious injuries. There was no flight plan filed and dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
In the pilot/operator report, the pilot in command stated that "about 1 1/4 miles from the end of the runway...an observation was made that we were low, power was applied for climb and at that moment we felt engagement with the top cable of the power lines." "The aircraft then rolled to the left and struck the ground in a nose down, left wing tip attitude and came to rest approximately 180 degrees from [the] original direction of travel."
The student pilot corroborated the pilot in command's statement in his pilot operator report. Both pilots also stated that the student pilot was at the controls at the time of the accident.
Toxicological tests performed on both the pilot in command and the student pilot detected positive levels of cannabinoids in the urine. The FAA regional flight surgeon was consulted regarding the drug related impairment. He was unable to make a determination. Both pilots' medical certificates were expired and the pilot in command did not have a current biennial flight review.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N86781
- Reported as
- Bellanca 14-13-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1142
- Airframe hours
- 1,402
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-150-B3, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Same As Registered Owner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 17, 1994 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- F67 · Grand Prairie, TX
- Airport
- 4T6 · Midlothian/Waxahachie, runway 18, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,700 total · 200 in this make and model · 1,600 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F