- Date
- December 22, 1995, 16:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place
- Waller, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9591DPiper PA-22-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 21, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951222049669A
- Case key
- 19735
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's failure to maintain obstacle clearance.
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
On short final, 300 to 400 feet from the runway threshold, the pilot realized that the power lines were immediately ahead and very slightly below. He momentarily added power and increased pitch attitude, but contacted the uppermost power line with left main gear. The airplane then impacted the runway and the nose and left main gear collapsed. There were no aerial marking balls installed on the power line.
Factual narrative
On December 22, 1995, at 1605 central standard time, a Piper PA- 22-160, N9591D, collided with a power line while on final approach to Skylake Airport near Waller, Texas. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was on final, "300 to 400 feet from the end of runway 35," when he "realized that the power lines were immediately ahead and very slightly below." He "momentarily added power and increased pitch attitude, but contacted uppermost power line with left main gear." After the collision, the airplane impacted the runway "somewhat hard," and the nose and left main landing gear collapsed. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane and reported the fuselage was wrinkled and the firewall was damaged. There were no aerial marking balls installed on the power line.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9591D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-6498
- Airframe hours
- 2,037
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark A. Herrington
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 15, 1995 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- 3XS7
- Airport
- 3XS7 · Skylake, runway 35, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 177 total · 25 in this make and model · 148 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.