# NTSB SEA96LA211: Cessna 172M, N12382, Pacific City, OR, September 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1996, 17:00 local (Sep 7, 1996, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Pacific City, OR - Coordinates: 45.189056, -123.959388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1891&lon=-123.9594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42461/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA211 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to see-and-avoid the transmission line. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's low altitude flight, and the transmission line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was flying along a river at an altitude of 200 feet. He reported that he was looking at the water, and then looked up to see an unmarked transmission wire which had been strung across the river. He attempted to fly the airplane underneath the wire, but it struck a smaller set of wires located below the wire that he initially saw. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1996, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N12382, registered to Valley Flyers, Inc. of Salem, Oregon, struck a wire while in flight about 2 miles southeast of Pacific City, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was not injured, landed the airplane at Salem, Oregon, the flight's intended destination, without further incident. The aircraft was subsequently found to be substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions were reported and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight from Pacific City State Airport. There were no reports of any other occupants in the aircraft. The pilot reported that he was flying along the Oregon coast at a point where the Salmon River flows into the Pacific Ocean, and turned there to follow the river upstream at an altitude of about 200 feet. He stated that he looked up from looking at the water to see an unmarked power line that had been strung from a steep hill off the airplane's left wing and crossed the river. The pilot stated that he maneuvered the airplane to attempt to fly underneath the wires at their highest point, but the airplane struck another, smaller set of wires located below the power line that he initially saw. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12382](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12382), registered now, S/N 17261958, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261958 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Valley Flyers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1996 - Departed: PFC, PACIFIC CITY, OR - Destination: SLE, SALEM, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,730 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,441 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 3 knots - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960906029849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960906029849A), Sep 6, 1996: Cessna 172M, Pacific City, OR, Substantial damage. Flying low up a river struck a unmarked powerline. Remained aloft. Landed safely. 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.