Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Atlanta, Nebraska 68923
Sunday, November 27, 2005 10:44 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The airplane, piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a radio and television tower during cruise and subsequent impact with terrain. Visual to instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. Two witnesses saw the airplane flying eastbound and saw the airplane impact the tower. About 10 minutes prior to the accident, the tower site manager inspected the tower for the approaching snow and found the tower's lights operational. The tower was depicted on the sectional aeronautical chart. Weather about 250 degrees magnetic and 53 nautical miles from the accident site, weather was: Wind 360 degrees 23 knots gusting to 33 knots, visibility 10 statute miles: sky condition scattered 1,400 feet, overcast 2,500 feet; temperature 2 degrees C; dew point -1 degree C; altimeter 29.33 inches of mercury; remarks peak wind 350 degrees at 33 knots at 1051 and weather about 45 degrees magnetic and 7 nautical miles from the accident site, weather was: Wind 360 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition overcast 900 feet; temperature 1 degree C; dew point -1 degree C; altimeter 29.32 inches of mercury. The airplane fuselage came to rest inverted. The tower was found on the ground folded upon itself in an accordion shape. The airplane fuselage was about one tenth of a mile from the base of the antenna on a 101-degree magnetic heading. The wings were found separated from the fuselage in a debris field that, measured from the antenna base, extended southward about three tenths of a mile on about a 171 degree heading. An on-scene investigation revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Flight control continuity was established and all breaks in control cables were consistent with overload. Engine controls were checked and continuity was established. The airspeed indicator's needle was trapped at an indication of 120 mph. The fuel selector was found in a detent and a liquid that smelled like aviation gasoline was found in the fuel selector valve. The propeller exhibited leading edge nicks and gouges. The color of a media transfer on the propeller was consistent with the aviation orange paint on the tower. The right wing exhibited a rearward semicircular crush about the outer third of the wing's leading edge. The right horizontal stabilator was torn from the empennage and the stabilator exhibited a semicircular rearward crush at its root. The trim tab for the left horizontal stabilator was torn about its midspan and the torn section remained attached to the right horizontal stabilator trim tab. The separations of the left and right wings were consistent with overload. The bottom skin of the left wing exhibited linear tearing from its leading edge to its flap about three feet outboard of its wing root. A global positioning system was installed in the airplane.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The non-instrument rated private pilot not maintaining clearance from the marked tower and his continued flight into adverse weather during cruise flight. Factors were the marked tower and the low ceilings present at the accident.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 11/27/2005 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1044 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | Atlanta |
| Event State | NEBRASKA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 68923 |
| Event Date Year | 2005 |
| Event Date Month | 11 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 402303N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0992723W |
| 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 | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1030 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 45 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | HDE |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 2309 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 7 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 900 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 1 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 360 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 19 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 24 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.32 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 3 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 3 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 20144 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Nov 27 2005 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 29 2006 3:49PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Lincoln, Nebraska |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N5596F |
| NTSB Number | CHI06FA037 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Piper |
| Aircraft Model | PA-28-140 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 28-24884 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2150 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| 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 | Mar 1 2005 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 43.7 |
| Airframe Hours | 13689.7 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | -- |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Daniel Michael Walker |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 99 Mabel Court, Apartment F |
| Aircraft Owner City | Morris |
| Aircraft Owner State | IL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 60450 |
| 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 | APA |
| Departure City | DENVER |
| Departure State | CO |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 701 |
| Departure Time Zone | MST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | C09 |
| Destination City | MORRIS |
| Destination State | IL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 1 2006 8:03AM |
| User who most recently changed record | SULP |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |