# NTSB GAA15CA090: Piper PA 25-260, N4793Y, Casselton, ND, May 25, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 25, 2015, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Casselton, ND
- Coordinates: 46.839443, -97.183891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8394&lon=-97.1839&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91240/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91240
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA090

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102508), [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: [Piper PA-25-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102508), [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: [Piper PA-25-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7102508), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102508), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During an interview with the Aviation Safety Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot told the inspector that he was heading back to the airport when he became distracted, looked down at the floor and then looked up just in time to see the wire. The airplane struck power transmission line wires at about 73 feet above the ground. The left wing impacted the ground about 290 feet from the power transmission line wires in the direction of travel, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

During an interview with the Aviation Safety Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot told the inspector that he was heading back to the airport when he became distracted, looked down at the floor and then looked up just in time to see the wire. The airplane struck power transmission line wires at about 73 feet above the ground. The left wing impacted the ground about 290 feet from the power transmission line wires in the direction of travel, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4793Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4793Y-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 25-4570 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 25-260 (260)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-4570
- Year built: 1968
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-G2A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: William R. Dittmer
- Registered owner: William R. Dittmer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2015
- Departed: 5N8, CASSELTON, ND
- Destination: 5N8, CASSELTON, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: KFAR, 16 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 20150525006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150525006659A), May 25, 2015: Piper PA-25-260, Casselton, ND, Destroyed. Accident investigation involving N4793Y, a Piper PA25-260, sn: 25-470. The aircraft was returning to Casselton regional airport after crop spraying a field…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91240. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 680 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Inspector statement (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%20statement%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1-Wreckage diagram (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Wreckage%20diagram%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2-Right wing fabric in wire at 73 feet AGL (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Right%20wing%20fabric%20in%20wire%20at%2073%20feet%20AGL%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 3-View of right wing damage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 990 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-View%20of%20right%20wing%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 4-View of left wing and fuselage damage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 929 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-View%20of%20left%20wing%20and%20fuselage%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.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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