# NTSB LAX83FA305: Prout LONG-EZE, N81KP, Geyserville, CA, June 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1983, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Geyserville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.730705, -122.909675 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7307&lon=-122.9097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA305
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA305

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - buzzing - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS FIRST OBSERVED ROUNDING THE BEND IN THE RUSSIAN RIVER ABOUT 1 MI WEST OF THE BRIDGE FLYING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, APPARENTLY FOLLOWING THE RIVER BED. THE ACFT'S ALTITUDE WAS DESCRIBED FROM 'JUST OVER THE WATER' TO 'TREE-TOPLEVEL.' AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE BRIDGE IT CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE 'JUST ABOVE THE BRIDGE.' THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHICH WERE STRUNG OVER THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO POLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT WHILE LOOKING IN THE ACFT'S DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, 'THE SUN WAS LOW ON THE HORIZON DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PLANE AND VERY BRIGHT.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: N81KP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PROUT LONG-EZE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 292
- Airframe hours: 125
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kim A. Prout
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1983, 26 hours before
- Departed: O60, CLOVERDALE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,575 total, 15 in this make and model, 2,478 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STS, 13 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 19830625035479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830625035479A), Jun 25, 1983: Amtrru VARIEZELONG, Geyserville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. During low flight over a river aircraft collided with power lines and crashed.

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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