- Date
- February 9, 2013, 12:38 local (20:38 UTC)
- Place
- Sunnyside, WA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6726JPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130209001219A
- Case key
- 86177
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 inadequate vigilance while maneuvering at low altitude and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from power lines.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Neither the pilot nor the pilot-rated passenger provided written statements about the circumstances of the accident. Witnesses reported that the airplane was maneuvering over a freeway when it struck a series of power lines (about 45 feet above ground level) and subsequently impacted terrain. One witness reported that the airplane was maneuvering “extremely low” to the ground and appeared to be doing several low turns and dives. The witness stated that, the airplane was so low, he could see the passenger’s face through the right front window. The wings, empennage, and fuselage were substantially damaged.
Factual narrative
Neither the pilot nor the pilot rated passenger has provided written statements as to the circumstances of the accident. Witnesses in the local area of the accident reported that the airplane was maneuvering over a freeway when it struck a series of power lines (approximately 45 feet above ground level) and subsequently impacted terrain. One witness reported that the airplane was maneuvering “extremely low” to the ground and appeared to do several low turns and dives. The witness stated the airplane was so low, he could see the passenger’s face through the right front window. The wings, empennage and fuselage were substantially damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6726J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-24434
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John Gilman
- Registered owner
- John Gilman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 1S5 · Sunnyside, WA
- Destination
- Sunnyside, WA
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
- 48
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- YKM
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 179 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.