Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clark Fork, Idaho 83811
Thursday, April 18, 1991 19:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER A RIVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A BIRD. THE AIRPLANE BECAME DIRECTIONALLY UNSTABLE AND THE PILOT OPTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN THE RIVER. THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT A DOWNED WIRE THAT RAN ACROSS THE RIVER WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE IN CRUISE LIGHT RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A WIRE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN A RIVER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CLARK FORK
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83811
Event Date Year 1991
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
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) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 167
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43251
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45656
NTSB Number SEA91LA088
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 2183
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL F. CLOCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2155
Aircraft Owner City HAYDEN LAKE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83835
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL F. CLOCK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 2155
Operator City HAYDEN LAKE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83835
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 THM
Departure City THOMPSON FALLS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code S62
Destination City SILVERWOOD
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --