Wirestrike Accident Taylorcraft BC12-D N94973,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 150913
 
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Date:Wednesday 28 November 2012
Time:10:57
Type:Silhouette image of generic TAYB model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Taylorcraft BC12-D
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N94973
MSN: 9373
Engine model:Continental A-65-8
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:A field northwest of Traer, near Clutier, IA -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Traer, IA (K8C6)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airplane was on approach to an unimproved airstrip when it struck power lines and then impacted terrain. The pilot had previously flown into this airstrip but had not done so recently. When the field was previously used as an airstrip, the power lines were buried; however, the power lines had recently been moved above ground. The pilot may not have been aware that the power lines had been moved above ground, and the lines were not marked. The surviving passenger stated that he never saw the power lines before the airplane struck them. Both wings were consumed by the fire.

The pilot's medical records revealed diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and bipolar disease. Toxicology testing showed the presence of medications consistent with the treatment of these conditions. Although the pilot’s medical records and toxicology results indicated that the pilot had recently stopped taking some medications that could have adversely affected his performance, his bipolar disease would have had significant negative effects on cognition, including memory and executive functioning/judgment, and would have been disqualifying for a medical certification. Therefore, although it is possible that the pilot's underlying psychiatric disease and its treatment may have affected his judgment, it is not possible to determine the extent to which it may have contributed to the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to monitor, recognize, and identify obstacles on approach to landing, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s expectation and assumption that there were no above-ground power lines in the area.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN13FA078
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 11 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=94973

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
28-Nov-2012 11:25 gerard57 Added
28-Nov-2012 12:01 gerard57 Updated [Total occupants, Location, Source, Narrative]
28-Nov-2012 12:19 gerard57 Updated [Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Source, Damage, Narrative]
28-Nov-2012 12:59 gerard57 Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative]
28-Nov-2012 14:46 Geno Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Source, Narrative]
02-Dec-2012 04:11 PC12 Updated [Source]
08-Jan-2013 11:34 gerard57 Updated [Source, Narrative]
08-Jan-2013 18:57 Geno Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
28-Nov-2017 13:55 ASN Update Bot Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
02-Jul-2022 17:48 rvargast17 Updated [Source, Damage, Narrative]

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