Grand Coulee Dam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Coulee, Washington 91933
Wednesday, December 1, 1999 17:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a night cross-country instructional flight, the instructor chose to divert the aircraft to an alternate airport. While maneuvering in the area of the alternate airport, the aircraft collided with high-voltage power lines 3 miles from the airport. The power lines are approximately 250 feet AGL. Both pilots stated they were unable to recall any of the detailed events from the time they diverted to the alternate airport to the time of the accident. The power lines are displayed on the sectional chart.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines. Factors include dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GRAND COULEE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91933
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport GRAND COULEE DAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3W7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 15
Airport Elevation 1590
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID EPH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1276
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1793
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 1 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4617M
NTSB Number SEA00LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model B-19
Aircraft Series Identifier B-19
Aircraft Serial Number MB-894
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 Nov 15 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 3744
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BIG BEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7662 CHANUTE STREET
Aircraft Owner City MOSES LAKE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98837
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MWH
Departure City MOSES LAKE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MWH
Destination City
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 24 2001 8:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --