Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weatherford, Texas 76088
Saturday, September 26, 1998 16:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted a power line while maneuvering. A witness observed the airplane overflying the pilot's private airstrip from south to north at about the same level as the power lines, which were located approximately 300 yards north of the grass runway. As the airplane neared the wires, its nose pitched up without the pilot adding power. The airplane struck the southern top static wire and subsequently impacted the ground 179 feet north of the power lines. The witness reported that the engine sounded 'great.' According to local residents, the pilot would normally takeoff to the south and land to the north. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear tire had a straight-line abrasion across the tire tread extending around the inside edge of the tire. The left lower strut/axle had scrape marks on the leading edge from the brake hose clamp down to the wheel attachment bolts. The right main landing gear tire also had a straight-line abrasion across the tire tread extending around the outside edge of the tire. Continuity was established to all flight controls.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1637
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WEATHERFORD
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76088
Event Date Year 1998
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 1553 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID FTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 710
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2803
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1608
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1706
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3469D
NTSB Number FTW98FA411
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 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier 170B
Aircraft Serial Number 27012
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Jan 22 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 3358
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOE H. KEMP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 301 JUPITER TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City WEATHERFORD
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76088
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 F56
Departure City STAMFORD
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
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 --