Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palouse, Washington 99161
Friday, June 1, 1990 9:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A FERRY FLIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE, THE PILOT CIRCLED THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FOR WIND DIRECTION. THE PILOT BEGAN THE DESCENT FOR LANDING AND NOTED A ROW OF POWER LINES. THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THAT ROW OF LINES, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SECOND ROW THAT THE PILOT HAD NOT OBSERVED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE SECOND ROW. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL NOSED OVER. THE LEFT WING IGNITED AND BURNED THE LEFT SIDE ONLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS POORLY PLANNED APPROACH FOR LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PALOUSE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99161
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 6
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 0
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 1500
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 413
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1043
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41348
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5895D
NTSB Number SEA90LA090
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-5404
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERVYN, WILLIAM J
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2 BOX 54
Aircraft Owner City GENESEE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83832
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MERVYN, WILLIAM J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 2 BOX 54
Operator City GENESEE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83832
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 PUW
Departure City PULLMAN
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --