Harden Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

English, Indiana 47118
Tuesady, May 15, 2007 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a power line and collided with trees following takeoff from a private grass field. The pilot attempted to takeoff to the north. He stated that after lifting off approximately half way down the field (1200 feet by 40 feet, turf), the airplane encountered a tailwind and he felt that he did not have enough engine power to out climb the approaching power line. The tail wheel snagged the power line and the airplane subsequently impacted a group of trees. The pilot noted that there were no malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. He added that "the engine appeared to be running normally and producing normal power." Wind conditions reported in the vicinity of the accident site were from 220 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning due to his decision to takeoff downwind, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power line. Contributing factors to the accident were the power line and the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2007
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City English
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47118
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381928N
Event Location Longitude 0862945W
Event Location Airport Harden
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID HNB
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KHNB 151455Z AUTO 22013G20KT 10SM CLR 26/19
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21707
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 16 2007 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 FAA-Indianapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7772E
NTSB Number CHI07CA139
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17572
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Piper Services Corp.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Marengo
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47140
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 I42
Departure City Paoli
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City English
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 6 2007 9:31AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --