Airplane Apparently Hit Power Lines Returning To The Airport

The NTSB preliminary report on a July accident in Latimer, Iowa indicates the pilot hit powerlines while following his wife, who was driving to the airport to pick him up after flying.

NTSB Identification: CEN09LA409
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 03, 2009 in Latimer, IA
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N8138B
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 3, 2009, at 1329 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N8138B, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Latimer, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The local flight had departed earlier from the Hampton Municipal Airport (KHPT), near Hampton, Iowa, at an unconfirmed time.

According to the pilot's wife, the pilot had provided airplane rides for some friends earlier in the day, departing from KHPT and flying over Iowa Falls and Sheffield, Iowa. Shortly before the accident, the airplane over flew their residence, as a signal to her that he was done flying and needed to be picked up at the airport. The pilot's wife proceeded to drive down County Highway 25 (190th Street) toward the airport. As she was driving, she observed the airplane in her rear-view mirror following her car at a low altitude before it suddenly descended nose first into the ground.

File Photo

The airplane's nose landing gear was found near a set of power lines that crossed over the roadway. The nose landing gear strut exhibited damage consistent with an impact with a power line. The main wreckage was located about 200 feet past the power lines along the direction of flight.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov