Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glenns Ferry, Idaho 83623
Saturday, April 10, 1999 13:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilots reported that while cruising up a river, one of the passengers spotted a coyote on the river bank and all the aircraft occupants turned to look at it. When the pilot-in-command (the left-seat pilot) directed his attention back to the front of the aircraft, he spotted unmarked powerlines crossing the river and warned the flying pilot (a non-current private pilot in the right front seat). The right-seat pilot pulled back on the control yoke, but the left-seat pilot stated it appeared to him that this would take them directly into the wires and he therefore pushed the yoke forward. The aircraft struck the wires, losing 1/3 of its vertical tail and 1/2 of its rudder; however, control of the aircraft was maintained. After climbing and performing a stability check and a simulated landing, the pilots returned to the departure airport and landed without further incident. Terrain in the vicinity of the powerline crossing is about 200 feet above the elevation of an airport on the river bank 2 1/2 miles upstream.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both pilots to see-and-avoid wires crossing the river. Factors included: transmission wires; inattention of both pilots to the aircraft's flight path; and the pilots' low-altitude flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GLENNS FERRY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83623
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 207
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2650U
NTSB Number SEA99LA059
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172D
Aircraft Series Identifier 172D
Aircraft Serial Number 17250250
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 3350
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARNOLD BORRESON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2610 AIRBASE RD.
Aircraft Owner City MOUNTAIN HOME
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83647
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JONATHAN E. POWELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1045 TARGHEE ST.
Operator City MOUNTAIN HOME
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83647
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code U76
Departure City MOUNTAIN HOME
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 06U
Destination City JACKPOT
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --