Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 56501
Sunday, February 18, 2001 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While flying low over a lake the aircraft collided with power transmission wires. The pilot stated, " Flew down low on this lake on the edge of Frazee (about tree top high). Started pulling up and there were power lines across the lake. Pointed nose down to clear but the prop cut the bottom wire and the tail took the top one." The pilot reported, "Damaged the leading edges on both wings and the vertical stab on the tail."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Altitude/clearance not maintained from the transmission wires during a low altitude flight/maneuver performed by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the transmission wires.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Detroit Lakes
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56501
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 2
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1339 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 279
Weather Observation Facility ID FAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 908
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) -1620
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 1339cst 180@15 10SM CLR -08/-12 A29.93
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10659
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 23 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 908
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 9 2001 3:21PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA, Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9714W
NTSB Number CHI01LA143
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-23190
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 100 Hour
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 West Central Airways, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4005 Highway 210 W
Aircraft Owner City Fergus Falls
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56537
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FFM
Departure City FERGUS FALLS
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DTL
Destination City DETROIT LAKES
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --