# NTSB GAA19CA115: Navion Navion, N384TL, Patterson, LA, January 20, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 20, 2019, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Coordinates: 29.707221, -91.296386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7072&lon=-91.2964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98919/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98919
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA115

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while making an evasive maneuver to avoid birds.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Navion NAVION D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=6150114), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while on a 3-mile base leg, he encountered a flock of large birds. He aborted the base leg and rapidly descended the airplane to avoid the birds, but the birds followed. The pilot continued the dive and saw power lines nearby. He made an "evasive maneuver (dive down)" to avoid the power lines, but the vertical stabilizer struck the power lines, shearing off the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot maintained airplane control, climbed the airplane, declared "mayday," and requested flight following to an airport without a crosswind for landing. He approached at a higher airspeed to reduce the airplane's left turning tendencies, and during the landing roll, the airplane veered left off the runway into an adjacent field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. 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, while on a 3-mile base leg, he encountered a flock of large birds circling. He aborted the base leg and made a rapid descent to avoid the birds, but the birds followed. The pilot continued the dive and observed power lines in the vicinity. He made an "evasive maneuver (dive down)" to avoid the power lines, but the vertical stabilizer struck the power lines, shearing off the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot maintained control, climbed, declared "mayday", and requested flight following to an airport without a crosswind for landing. He approached at a higher airspeed to reduce the left turning tendencies and, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left off the runway into an adjacent grass and mud field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N384TL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N384TL), registered now, S/N NAV-4-1384, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION (D)
- Registry model: [Navion NAVION D](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-d) (registry code 6150114) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-1384
- Year built: 1948
- Airframe hours: 2838.73
- Engines: Continental IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2018
- Departed: REG, Gonzales, LA
- Destination: PTN, Patterson, LA
- Airport: PTN, Harry P Williams Memorial
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 1,327 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,327 as pilot in command, 15.5 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: KPTN, 2 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 20190120005769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190120005769A), Jan 20, 2019: Navion NAVION D, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. Received occurrence report for aircraft reporting a problem with its vertical stabilizer. Talked to the pilot and found out that when he was approaching to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98919. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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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