# NTSB MIA96FA148: Aeronca O-58B, N49546, Greenville, SC, June 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1996, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Greenville, SC - Coordinates: 34.849933, -82.400756 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8499&lon=-82.4008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96FA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96FA148 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot had flown into the area, picked up a passenger, and had just departed the airport when the airplane struck a power line that crossed over the lake he was flying over. The airplane then impacted the lake and sank. The passenger stated that the reason they were flying over the lake 'at such a low altitude,' was that they were 'just sightseeing...[and] did not see the wires.' A witness standing on the shore near the boat docks observed the airplane fly directly over his location, heading in a northwesterly direction. He stated that the airplane flew low over him and had cleared the tops of the trees by an estimated altitude of '1 to 200 feet.' After the airplane past over him and was heading away from him, over the lake, he said to another person 'I bet he didn't know about the power lines...since he was flying so low.' About that time the witness heard the airplane strike the wires. The witness further stated, '...in my opinion the aircraft was developing power and operating normally up until impact.' Examination of the airframe revealed a wire strike mark on the leading edge about mid-span of the left wing. Examination of the engine did not reveal any discrepancies. The wooden propeller was still attached to the crankshaft flange, but the tips of both blades were missing. A search was conducted on the bottom of the lake for the missing propeller blades, with negative results. The power lines in the vicinity of the crash site consisted of 8 cables supported by two towers located on both sides of the lake. The cables crossed the lake in an east-west direction. The bottom cables were about 50 feet above the lake, and the top cables were about 150 feet above the lake. The third cable from the top, had been repaired, and according to the police, the cable was broken before they had arrived at the crash site. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 5, 1996, about 1740 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca O-58B, N49546, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal, local flight, crashed in the vicinity of Greenville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot received fatal injuries, and one passenger was seriously injured. It was reported that the pilot had flown into the Greenville area, picked up the passenger, and had departed the Donaldson Center Airport, when the flight struck power lines, impacted in a lake, and sank. The injured passenger was removed from the water and taken to a local hospital, where his condition prevented him from talking to investigators. In a telephone interview on June 27, 1996, the passenger told the FAA, the reason they were flying over the lake "at such a low altitude," was that they were "just sightseeing." The passenger stated that they were "following the bends and turns" of the lake, and "did not see the wires." A witness, employed as an airline pilot, was standing on the shore, near the boat docks, when the airplane flew directly over his location, heading in a northwesterly direction. He stated that the airplane flew low over him, and had cleared the tops of the trees by an estimated altitude of "1 to 200 feet." After the airplane past, and was heading away from him, over the lake, he said to another person standing with him, "I bet he didn't know about the power lines off Holly Lane since he was flying so low." About that time the witness heard the airplane strike the wires. The witness further stated, "...in my opinion the aircraft was developing power and operating normally up until impact." The accident occurred during the hours of daylight approximately 34 degrees, 45 minutes north, and 82 degrees, 22 minutes west. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Information on the pilot is contained in page 3 of this report under First Pilot Information. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Meteorological information is contained in page 4 of this report under Weather Information. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot, on June 6, 1996, at the Greenville Hospital, in Greenville, South Carolina, by Dr. Beverly Stigall. Toxicological tests on the pilot were conducted at the Greenville Hospital Laboratory, Greenville, South Carolina, and revealed, "no drugs or alcohol." WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane impacted in water, almost directly under power lines that ran across the lake. The airplane subsequently sank in about 18 feet of water, and came to rest upside down, with the nose of the airplane heading in a northwesterly direction. According to search and rescue personnel, all the control surfaces of the airplane were attached when the airplane was found on the lake bottom. Additional damage to the airplane was caused during the recovery from the water. All three landing gears were found attached to the airframe The airplane was removed from the lake June 10, 1996, and towed, in the water, by a boat to a dock, were it was examined. Examination of the airframe revealed a wire strike mark on the leading edge, about mid-span of the left wing. A hole, about 5 inches by 3 inches, with heat damage on the surrounding surface, was found on the inboard, leading edge of the left wing. The right wing was destroyed. Control continuity was established to all the flight controls. Examination of the engine did not reveal any discrepancies. The wooden propeller was still attached to the crankshaft flange, but the tips of both blades were missing. A search was conducted on the bottom of the lake for the missing propeller blades, with negative results. The power lines in the vicinity of the crash site consisted of 8 cables, that were supported by two towers, located on both sides of the lake. The cables crossed the lake, from the towers in an east-west direction. The bottom cables were about 50 feet above the lake and the top cables were about 150 feet above the lake. The third cable from the top, had been repaired, and according to the police, the cable was already broken when they had arrived at the crash site. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was released to the owner's insurance adjuster, Mr. James Brewer , on June 10, 1996. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49546](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49546-2005-05-19), registration cancelled 2005-05-19, S/N 058B-8582, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca O-58B - Registry model: [Aeronca 0-58B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-0-58b) (registry code 0191006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1502619 - Airframe hours: 2182 - Engines: Continental A75 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Angie C. Flanagan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 1996, 18 hours before - Departed: 7A1 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 310 total, 26 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GMU, 25 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 19960605047129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960605047129A), Jun 5, 1996: Greenville, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-16) Pilot and pilot's brother departed donaldson center airport (7A1). Arriving near salvda lake, witness stated he observed the aircraft flying… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.