- Date
- February 15, 2015, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Garfield, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7928WPiper PA28 - 180
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 7, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150215001679A
- Case key
- 90749
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 did not maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that while conducting a low-level sightseeing flight, he inadvertently collided with an unmarked power line with the airplane's left wing. The pilot subsequently made a precautionary landing in a field without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while conducting a low-level sightseeing flight, he inadvertently collided with an unmarked power line with the airplane's left wing. The pilot subsequently made a precautionary landing in a field without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7928W
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 - 180 (180)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-1969
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 4,830
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 26, 2014 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- Garfield, WA
- Destination
- Garfield, WA
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 17, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 510 total · 100 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.34 inHg
- Observed at
- GEG, 30 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 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.