- Date
- August 16, 2014, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1624ZEipper Formance Mxii
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20140816016939A
- Case key
- 89890
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was flying the airplane at 50 feet above ground level. He spotted a coyote and dropped to a lower altitude to take a closer look. He circled the coyote and was aware of the power lines near by, however, he did not compensate for the wind drift, which pushed the airplane toward the power lines. While in a 40-degree angle of bank the lower wing struck the power line. The wing folded upward and the airplane impacted the ground in an upright position substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was flying the airplane at 50 feet above ground level. He spotted a coyote and dropped to a lower altitude to take a closer look. He circled the coyote and was aware of the power lines near by, however, he did not compensate for the wind drift, which pushed the airplane toward the power lines. While in a 40-degree angle of bank the lower wing struck the power line. The wing folded upward and the airplane impacted the ground in an upright position substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1624Z
- Reported as
- Eipper Formance Mxii
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1764
- Built
- 1983
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 46 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Judd Trenten M
- Registered owner
- Judd Trenten M
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 1, 2007
- Departed
- Delle Station, UT
- Destination
- Delle Station, UT
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KSLC, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 MB 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.
Other investigations on N1624Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.