- Date
- November 7, 2017, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bonners Ferry, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N55234Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 21, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20171107018359A
- Case key
- 96328
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 see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, about 50 ft above the ground during a "low recon" over a river bar, he did not see power lines crossing the river until they were about 10 ft in front of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane's empennage struck the wires; he then added power and initiated a climb. He returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, about 50 ft. above the ground during a "low recon" over a river bar, he did not see power lines crossing the river until they were about 10 ft. in front of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane's empennage struck the wires; he then, added power and initiated a climb. He returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55234
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (S)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S11415
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 224.2
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 6, 2017
- Departed
- 65S · Bonners Ferry, ID
- Destination
- COE · Coeur D'Alene, ID
- Airport
- 65S · Boundary County
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 29, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 396.2 total · 329.2 in this make and model · 282.8 as pilot in command · 60.4 in the last 90 days · 23.2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.37 inHg
- Observed at
- K65S, 3 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.