Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Horseshoe Bend, Idaho 83629
Tuesady, September 9, 1997 11:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Another pilot, who was flying behind and above the accident airplane through the valley, reported that the lead airplane was flying below the ridge line and centered in the valley. As the second airplane came around a slight turn in the valley, the lead pilot transmitted that there was a car on the road. The second pilot looked down to find the car and the lead airplane, then looked back in the cockpit. When the second pilot looked back outside a few seconds later, the lead airplane had collided with three unmarked transmission wires. The transmission wires were strung across the valley at a minimum altitude of 33 feet and a maximum altitude of 60 feet above the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. The wires were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City HORSESHOE BEND
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83629
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID BOI
Elevation of weather observation facility 2858
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1009
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1129
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3637M
NTSB Number SEA97FA206
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2523
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 157
Airframe Hours 2150
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BISKAY LAND & LIVESTOCK CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2400 CHERRY LANE
Aircraft Owner City BOISE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOE E. CENARRUSA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 305 HEARTHSTONE DR.
Operator City BOISE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83702
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WILDERNESS AREA
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EUL
Destination City CALDWELL
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --