NTSB Report: Low Altitude Shenanigans Encounter Power Lines | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-12.09.24

Airborne-NextGen-12.10.24

Airborne-Unlimited-12.11.24

Airborne Flt Training-12.05.24

Airborne-Unlimited-12.06.24

Tue, Jul 09, 2024

NTSB Report: Low Altitude Shenanigans Encounter Power Lines

(Witness) Reported That The Airplane Was Flying Level About 100 To 200 Ft Above The Water Toward The Powerlines

Location: Hickory, North Carolina    Accident Number: ERA23LA334
Date & Time: August 13, 2023, 11:28    Local Registration: N239WD
Aircraft: Scoda Aeronautica Super Petrel   Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event   Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The NTSB has published the final report regarding a fatal crash involving a Super Petrol from the summer of 2023, where a seaplane flew into a set of powerlines while skimming along the lake at low altitude. 

"The private pilot/owner and the student pilot/passenger departed in the amphibious airplane and flew to a local lake where they were observed conducting a touch-and-go landing and flying low over the water. One witness, who was on his boat dock about 100 yards from a set of energized powerlines that spanned the lake, reported that the airplane was flying level about 100 to 200 ft above the water toward the powerlines. As the airplane approached the powerlines, it appeared to take a sudden nose-down attitude before it impacted the powerlines. There was a large explosion and the airplane impacted the water," the report said.

Worse for locals in the area, the collision caused a large electrical power outage to the surrounding community. "Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed impact signatures consistent with impact with the powerlines and no evidence of any mechanical deficiencies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the witness’ observations, the pilot likely observed the powerlines and attempted to maneuver underneath them. The airplane then struck the powerlines, lost control, and impacted the lake."

Overall, the National Transportation Safety Board came to the unsurprising conclusion that the accident was due to the "pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while maneuvering at a low altitude
over water, which resulted in a collision and loss of control." If anything, it's another sad lesson in the fact that even novel, exciting new ventures like seaplane operation carry the same risks that standard aircraft do.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.09.24): Altimeter Setting

Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]

ANN FAQ: Follow Us On Instagram!

Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.09.24)

“As the excitement builds for the world of flight returning to Oshkosh in 2025, we wanted to ensure that advance tickets are available for those who enjoy giving AirVenture t>[...]

ANN FAQ: Submit a News Story!

Have A Story That NEEDS To Be Featured On Aero-News? Here’s How To Submit A Story To Our Team Some of the greatest new stories ANN has ever covered have been submitted by our>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.10.24)

“We’re watching the very nature of warfare change. The speed of technology is absolutely meteoric.” Source: Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, commanding general of the Fort N>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC