Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rio Verde, Arizona 85263
Thursday, November 2, 2006 8:16 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with power lines while flying at low altitude over a river and descended into the water below. Witnesses observed the airplane flying low over a prolonged period in the area of a dam and along the river below the dam. One witness noted that the airplane appeared to be lower than the surrounding hills. Power lines are situated just south of the dam and proceed along the south-side of the river. The power lines cross the river to its north side at a point where the river makes a "U" shaped 180-degree turn, heading north momentarily and then reversing course to the south. The power lines cross the river in the southward leg of the "U" shape. The terrain in the middle of the "U" shape is about 150 feet higher than the river, which would likely block the view of the south flowing leg of the river, and perhaps the power line, from a pilot following the river at low altitude. The power line's wires were found frayed and damaged in the stretch that crossed the river. The airplane came to rest in the river near the power line crossing. Examination of the wreckage found that the right wing of the airplane contacted and was severed by the power line. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were found during the examination of airframe and engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while intentionally flying at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/2/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 816
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Rio Verde
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85263
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334837N
Event Location Longitude 1114003W
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 Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21637
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 2 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-SDL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N606RV
NTSB Number LAX07LA025
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 Olson
Aircraft Model Vans RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 34558K
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 245.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Larry K. Olson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cave Creek
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85331
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 DVT
Departure City Phoenix
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 21 2007 2:08PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
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 --