LAX01FA274

The airplane collided with power lines and poles 1.1 miles east of the airport's runway 27 approach end while on a night visual landing approach. The accident site is in level desert terrain approximately the same elevation as the airport. Impact marks and transfers disclosed that the aircraft contacted a steel and concrete power pole and associated static and transmission lines with the left wing, center windshield post, and vertical stabilizer. Investigation revealed that the pilot and passenger had consumed alcoholic beverages during dinner together at a local restaurant the night of the accident. Following dinner, the pair were observed to consume other alcoholic beverages at a party. The airplane then departed from the airport, where the airplane is based, at an unknown time for a presumed local flight. An airborne witness was piloting an emergency medical services helicopter (based at the airport), which was returning from a mission and inbound to the airport from the south. He observed the position lights of the accident airplane approach the airport from the west through a pass, which crosses the mountains between the valley where the airport is located and the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area. The position lights were roughly at the same elevation as his helicopter, 4,000 feet msl. He attempted to contact the airplane on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, but got no response. As he continued inbound to the airport, he monitored the position of the airplane and saw it on a wide arcing flight path to the south of the airport. As he was beginning a final descent to land at their parking spot, the airplane's pilot came on the CTAF and announced that he was going to make a "teardrop approach" to runway 27 left. The witness said the pilot's voice had an unusual and strange quality and that the comment about a teardrop approach confused him momentarily because he knew that there was no such instrument approach to the airport. He then observed the airplane continue the wide arcing and descending left-hand flight path to runway 27. The witness had landed and was shutting the helicopter down when he looked up and observed the navigation lights of the airplane on final approach. He thought to himself that the airplane was very low, then he saw the bright flash of arcing electricity as the airplane contacted the power lines. The power lines contacted by the airplane are the most eastern of four sets of high tension power lines running perpendicular to the approach end of the runway. The pole and lines contacted by the airplane were 66 feet above ground level and on the extended runway centerline. The most western set of the three power line sets were marked by red obstruction lights. The sky was clear and the winds calm, with no moon visible. The airport's runway and approach lights were functioning. The airport is located on the south side of the city and, for an airplane on final approach, the airport lights would be the only ground reference lights visible. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified with the airplane or engine. Ethanol was found in the following levels in specimens from the pilot: 124 mg/dl in blood, 74 mg/dl in brain, and 214 mg/dl in urine.

History of flight

On August 12, 2001, at 0003 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8098W, collided with power lines and poles 1 mile east of the runway 27 approach end at the Boulder City, Nevada, airport. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The airplane was destroyed in the collision sequence and postcrash fire. The instrument rated private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that is believed to have originated at an undetermined time from the Bullhead City, Arizona, airport.

An individual who identified herself as the girlfriend of the passenger was contacted and interviewed by telephone. She reported that both her and the passenger were friends with the pilot. The pilot had invited them to go on flights previously, however, their schedules and his had never allowed them to accept his invitation. She stated that she was back east on a business trip when the accident happened; however, had come to find out from other friends that the pilot and passenger had dinner together at a local Boulder City restaurant the night of the accident. The friends reported that the two had consumed alcoholic beverages during dinner. Following dinner, the pair walked to a nearby park to join an outdoor party, where they were observed to consume other alcoholic beverages. She said she knows that the two returned to her apartment sometime after that because the passenger had left some personal possessions there that he normally carries with him at all times. She believes the two decided to go flying after that and that the flight departed from the Boulder City airport, where the airplane is based, and was local in nature, though she could not rule out a flight to Bullhead City.

An airborne witness was piloting an emergency medical services helicopter (based at the Boulder City Airport), which was returning from a mission and inbound to the airport from the south. He observed the position lights of the accident airplane approach the airport from the west through "Railroad Pass," which crosses the mountains between the valley where Boulder City is located and the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area. The position lights were roughly at the same elevation as his helicopter, 4,000 feet msl. He attempted to contact the airplane on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, but got no response. As he continued inbound to the airport, he monitored the position of the airplane and saw it on a wide arcing flight path to the south of the airport. As he was beginning a final descent to land at their parking spot, the airplane's pilot came on the CTAF and announced that he was going to make a "teardrop approach" to runway 27 left. The witness said the pilot's voice had an unusual quality. When asked for details, the witness reported that he could not say the pilot was ill or disoriented, but the voice sounded very strange. The witness said the pilot's comment about a teardrop approach confused him momentarily because he knew that there was no such instrument approach to the airport. He then observed the airplane continue the wide arcing and descending left-hand flight path to runway 27. The witness had landed and was shutting the helicopter down when he looked up and observed the navigation lights of the airplane on final approach. He thought to himself that the airplane was very low, then he saw the bright flash of arcing electricity as the airplane contacted the power lines.

The witness stated that the airplane's position lights were visible from the first time he noticed the airplane until the flash associated with the crash. He did not see a landing light, rotating beacon or strobe lights from the airplane at any time.

The power lines contacted by the airplane are the most eastern of four sets of high tension power lines running perpendicular to the approach end of the runway. The lines contacted by the airplane were reported by the power company to be 66 feet above ground level.

Safety Board investigators arrived at the accident site 2 hours after the accident. The sky was clear and the winds calm. The most western set of the three power line sets were marked by red obstruction lights, which were functioning at the time they were observed by the investigators.

Personnel information

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman and Medical records files, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane ratings for single engine land and instruments. The most recent issuance of the certificate was the addition of the instrument rating, which occurred on July 17, 2001. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate, which was issued without limitations on December 14, 2000.

The pilot's personal flight records were not located and information contained in the FAA records disclosed that the pilot had self reported a total flight time of 400 hours, which was accrued over a 4-year period.

Aircraft information

No airplane or engine maintenance records were located. A review was conducted of the material maintained by the FAA in the Aircraft and Registry files for this airplane. The Piper PA-28-180 airplane, serial number 28-2193, was manufactured in February 1965, and purchased by the pilot on December 20, 1999. According to the original application for a normal category airworthiness certificate completed by the Piper factory, a Lycoming O-360-A3A engine, serial number L-7723-36A, was installed at the time of manufacture (the data plate on the engine in the wreckage listed the same serial number).

While no formal maintenance logbooks as such were located, two hand written sheets of paper were found in the wreckage that contained notations of maintenance activities, the dates these were performed, and the tach times. No signatures or return to service endorsements were contained on any entry. The first entry was dated December 18, 1999, and noted a tach time of 3576.00. An entry dated December 3, 2000, noted the completion of an annual inspection at a tach time of 3717.96. The last entry was dated July 15, 2001, at a tach time of 3780 and noted the addition of 1 quart of oil. A notation in the margin of the first page states "IFR cert due 8/21/01."

Meteorological information

The closest official weather observation station is the McCarren International Airport, which is 19 miles northwest of the accident site. The airport's 2350 weather observation noted in part, a visibility of 10 miles with few clouds at 25,000 feet and variable winds at less than 4 knots.

The airborne witness who was landing at the Boulder City Airport at the time of the accident reported in an interview that the sky was clear with unrestricted visibilities and calm winds. No unusual meteorological phenomenon was observed.

A Safety Board investigator arrived at the accident site about 2 hours after the accident. The atmospheric conditions were observed to be clear with unrestricted visibilities and calm winds.

A Safety Board computer program was used to determine the position and illumination of the moon. At the time of the accident, the moon was 3.8 degrees above the eastern horizon on a magnetic bearing of 062.5 degrees. The program listed the disk illumination as 50 percent. A north-south oriented range of mountains were noted to the east of the accident site on the general 060 bearing line, with elevations that reach 5,400 feet msl.

The airport is located on the south side of the city. When Safety Board investigators arrived at the site at about 0230, it was noted that there were no ground reference lights over an arc from the southwest through south to the east northeast of the accident site. The only ground lights were noted to the west (airport) and north (city).

Aerodrome and ground facilities

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