Piper Cub Collided With Power Lines And Went Into Lake Tulloch

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from an accident which occurred on Father's Day near Copperopolis, CA which resulted in the fatal injury of the pilot of the airplane.

According to the report, on June 16, 2019, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N209H, was destroyed when it impacted the water of Lake Tulloch, near Copperopolis, CA. The private pilot, identified as 58-year-old Trent F. Johnson of Modesto, CA was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

The cross-country flight originated from Columbia Airport (O22), Columbia, CA, at an unknown time, with an intended destination of Modesto, California.

Witnesses located on Lake Tulloch observed the accident airplane collide with power lines located over the northeastern channel of the lake. They reported that the airplane was at a low altitude on a southerly heading when it collided with the power lines and subsequently descended into the water in a nose low attitude.

Local law enforcement officials located the airplane wreckage submerged in 119 ft of water near the power lines.

The wreckage was recovered on June 18 and transported to a secure location for further examination.

(Source: NTSB. Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov