Xcel Energy Named In Response To Federal Suit Filed By Injured Automobile Driver

The pilot of an L-39C jet and his passenger have named Xcel Energy as being at fault for an accident in which the airplane went through seven power lines while making a low pass through De Beque Canyon near Grand Junction, CO in 2015.

According to the NTSB, the pilot, former Marine Corps pilot Brian Evans, was flying over a river at an altitude of about 100 feet above water and ground level, at 250 knots, the airplane impacted unmarked power line wires that spanned the river. The power line wires are clearly identified on the Visual Flight Rules Sectional Aeronautical Chart. The pilot immediately established a climb and returned to the airport without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose, left wing, and vertical stabilizer. The Board cited inadequate preflight planning and  subsequent failure to remain clear of power line wires while maneuvering at low altitude as the probable cause of the accident. The NTSB report is not admissible as evidence in court.

The Grand Junction Sentinel reports that the driver of a car that was on Interstate 70 when the accident occurred filed a lawsuit claiming that he lost feeling in his hands due to gripping the steering wheel in fear as the jet appeared to be flying directly towards him. He had passengers in the car at the time. The driver, Steve Centofanti, also said he suffered hearing loss from the sound of the jet engines as the plane pulled up out of the canyon after striking the powerlines. The cables whipped through the area after being cut by the airplane, damaging Centofanti's car and others in the area.

Evans and his passenger Raymond Mez Davoudi have filed a response to Centofanti's lawsuit, saying Xcel Energy was a "necessary and indispensable" party that should have been named by Centofanti in the suit. They said through their attorneys that the cables were not marked, and the energy company should be liable for damages awarded to Centofanti.

The energy company said that it was not a party to the lawsuit, and would not comment.

(NTSB images)

FMI: Original report