# NTSB SEA00LA027: Beech B-19, N4617M, Grand Coulee, WA, December 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 1, 1999, 17:30 local (Dec 2, 1999, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Coulee, WA - Location: 47.9722° N, 119.0398° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GRAND COULEE DAM (3W7), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9722&lon=-119.0398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report May 22, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47880/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA027 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines. Factors include dark night conditions. ## Analysis During a night cross-country instructional flight, the instructor chose to divert the aircraft to an alternate airport. While maneuvering in the area of the alternate airport, the aircraft collided with high-voltage power lines 3 miles from the airport. The power lines are approximately 250 feet AGL. Both pilots stated they were unable to recall any of the detailed events from the time they diverted to the alternate airport to the time of the accident. The power lines are displayed on the sectional chart. ## Factual narrative On December 1, 1999, approximately 1730 Pacific standard time, a Beechcraft B-19, N4617M, registered to and operated by Big Bend Community College as a 14CFR91 instructional flight, was destroyed after colliding with power lines and terrain approximately three mile northeast of Grand Coulee Dam Airport, Electric City, Washington. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot both sustained serious injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed for the cross country flight. The flight originated from the Grant County International Airport (MWH), Moses Lake, Washington, approximately one hour prior to the accident. In a written statement, the certified flight instructor reported that the intent of the instructional flight was to complete lesson 2-4 in the Training Course Outline (attached). The lesson called for a cross-country flight with a diversion to an alternate airport. After reviewing the weather and the student's flight planning, the two pilots departed MWH at 1625 Pacific standard time, with a planned destination of Anderson Field, Brewster, Washington, (S97). The instructor pilot stated that approximately 20 minutes after departing MWH he instructed the student pilot to divert to Grand Coulee Dam Airport (S97), approximately 25 miles northeast of their location. The instructor pilot and student pilot both remember making a heading change for the new destination airport. However, both pilots were unable to recall any of the detailed events between the time of the heading change and the accident. The aircraft's initial impact point was a series of tower-mounted, high-voltage transmission lines (that are displayed on the sectional chart), located approximately three nautical miles northeast of the airport. According to Bonneville Power Administration, the height of the power lines are approximately 250 feet above ground level (2,250 feet above mean sea level [MSL]). According to Douglas County Sheriff's Office, witnesses reported seeing a bright flash, in the vicinity of the power lines, at the approximate time of the accident. According to a flight navigation log recovered from the accident aircraft, the planned altitude for the cross country flight was 4,500 feet above MSL. The published elevation for Grand Coulee Dam Airport is 1,590 feet MSL. Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - wire,transmission - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4617M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4617M-2000-02-12), registration cancelled 2000-02-12, S/N MB-894 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B-19 - Registry model: [Beech B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (registry code 1151215) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MB-894 - Airframe hours: 3744 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Big Bend Community College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1999, 19 hours before - Departed: MWH, MOSES LAKE, WA - Destination: MWH, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 3W7, Grand Coulee Dam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 566 total, 297 in this make and model, 497 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EPH, 40 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 19991201045059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991201045059A), Dec 1, 1999: Beech B19, Grand Coulee, WA, No damage. (-23) The a/c, a Beech-19 was on a cross-country dual instruction flight after departing from moses lake, WA. Over mansfield airport, the instructor diverted… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.