Summary
On August 27, 2015, a Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-200 (N63BW) was involved in an incident near Irwin, ID. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low level flight, which resulted in the airplane striking a wire, impacting water, and nosing over.
The pilot reported that during a low level flight, the airplane struck a wire over a river. The landing gear contacted the wire, the wire stretched like a "bungee cord," and then the wire broke. The airplane pulled to the right with the wire still attached, the pilot landed in the river, and the airplane nosed over. The recovery of the airplane from the river revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that, "I could have prevented this accident by better observation of power lines over the river."
The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA15CA255. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N63BW.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low level flight, which resulted in the airplane striking a wire, impacting water, and nosing over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that during a low level flight, the airplane struck a wire over a river. The landing gear contacted the wire, the wire stretched like a "bungee cord," and then the wire broke. The airplane pulled to the right with the wire still attached, the pilot landed in the river, and the airplane nosed over. The recovery of the airplane from the river revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that, "I could have prevented this accident by better observation of power lines over the river."
The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA255