Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Walpole, Maine 04573
Thursday, July 13, 1989 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON A 1 MILE DECENT TO HIS HOME AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHORTLY THERE AFTER STOPPED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A 270 DEGREE TURN IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL, THE LEFT LANDING GEAR CAUGHT A POWER LINE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FALL VERTICALLY ABOUT 20 FEET, IMPACTING THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS AND CARBURETOR SHOWED SUFFICIENT FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE POWERLINE WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WALPOLE
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04573
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 2088
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41581
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:53PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5014H
NTSB Number NYC89LA163
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-11
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-11
Aircraft Serial Number 11-849
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Feb 20 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 6455
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GILBERT & GENTHNER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address EGYPT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DAMARISCOTTA
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04543
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERNARD PAUL RISLEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BRISTOL RD. BOX 34
Operator City DAMARISCOTTA
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04543
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 WAYNE
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City WALPOLE
Destination State ME
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --