- Date
- October 21, 1995, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Battle Mountain, NV
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1845APiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951021033609A
- Case key
- 29314
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 utility transmission wires suspended across the final approach flight path.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While on final approach for landing on a dirt road located on a private ranch, the aircraft impacted utility transmission lines suspended 30 feet above and perpendicular to the road. The aircraft severed three lines and travelled 140 feet further before impacting on the road in a flat attitude. All three landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid off the road striking a barbed wire fence. The aircraft came to rest 240 feet beyond the transmission lines. The pilot was looking at the airspeed indicator instrument when the collision occurred.
Factual narrative
On October 21, 1995, at 0945 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22, N1845A, collided with three utility transmission lines while on landing approach to a dirt road on a private ranch near Battle Mountain, Nevada. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was privately owned and operated. The personal flight originated from a private ranch near Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, at 0830. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot told investigators from the FAA's Reno Flight Standards District Office that prior to takeoff he had talked with the ranch owner who had advised him of two possible landing sites on the ranch. Upon arrival, the pilot visually confirmed that the main road was too rough and elected to land on the smaller road. He stated that he determined that surface winds were from the northwest and therefore, established a base leg for an approach to the west. As he rolled out on final approach, he noticed that the road had a slight bend and began to focus his attention on his touchdown point. As he continued his approach, he looked at the instrument panel to check his airspeed, and as he did so, the aircraft struck the utility lines that ran perpendicular to the road.
According to a Lander County Sheriff's Deputy, the aircraft severed three, 3/8-inch diameter utility lines suspended 30 feet above the road. It then continued to travel west an additional 140 feet before impacting on the road surface in a flat attitude. All three landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid off the roadway to the left, striking a barbed wire fence with the left wing struts. The aircraft came to rest 240 feet beyond the utility lines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1845A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1083
- Airframe hours
- 2,150
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Eric D. Johnson
- Registered owner
- Dean Larson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 24, 1995 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- Horseshoe Bend, ID
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 106 total · 14 in this make and model · 106 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- B23, 150 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.