# NTSB SEA05LA198: Cessna 170A, N9527A, Ione, WA, September 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2005, 16:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Ione, WA - Coordinates: 48.806945, -117.405281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.8069&lon=-117.4053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62522/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure during low-level maneuvering flight, to maintain clearance from a pair of unmarked power lines. Factors include the pilot's intentional low altitude flight/maneuver and wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - low altitude flight/maneuver - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis After arriving in the area of the accident, the pilot first flew to the north while low over the trees along the side of the Pend Oreille River. He then reversed course and headed to the south about 100 feet or less over the river. As he proceeded south over the river, the aircraft impacted a pair of unmarked power transmission wires that run across the river. Immediately upon contacting the power lines, the aircraft's pitch attitude rotated to a near vertical position, and it descended nearly straight down into the river. In less than two minutes after hitting the surface of the river, the aircraft sank in about 10 feet of water. It was later determined that the power lines were between 80 and 90 feet above the surface of the river. An inspection of the aircraft revealed wires had contacted the propeller, the lower portion of the fuselage just aft of the door frames, and the vertical stabilizer leading edge where it intersects the fuselage. Control continuity was established to the elevator, and there was no indication that there had been any anomaly associated with the engine. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2005, approximately 1650 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N9527A, impacted power lines crossing the Pend Oreille River about one mile north of Box Canyon Dam, near Ione, Washington. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was last seen at the Lake Sullivan State Airstrip, and it reportedly departed there about 30 minutes prior to the accident. It is believed that the pilot was on a local pleasure flight, with an intended ultimate return to Lake Sullivan. There was no report of an ELT activation. No flight plan had been filed. According to witnesses, the aircraft was first noticed going to the north, flying low over the trees along the side of the Pend Oreille River. It then reversed course and headed to the south at 100 feet or less above the river. The aircraft was then seen to impact a pair of unmarked power transmission wires that run across the river about one mile north of the Box Canyon Dam. Immediately upon contacting the power lines, the aircraft's pitch attitude rotated to a near vertical position, and it descended nearly straight down into the river. In less than two minutes after hitting the surface of the river, the aircraft sank in about 10 feet of water. It was later determined that the power lines were between 80 and 90 feet above the surface of the river. An inspection of the aircraft after it was recovered from the river revealed wire strike abrasions on the propeller, the lower portion of the fuselage just aft of the door frames, and at the point where the vertical stabilizer leading edge intersects the fuselage. Control continuity was established to the elevator, and there was no indication that there had been any anomaly associated with the engine. An autopsy performed by the Pend Oreille County Corner determined that the pilot died as a result of blunt force impact to the head and torso, and that the cause of death was accidental. A forensic toxicology performed by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and screened drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9527A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9527A-2006-02-13), registration cancelled 2006-02-13, S/N 19088, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19088 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hans C. Henrickson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 095, Sullivan Lake, WA - Destination: 095, Unknown, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 24,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F 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.