Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soda Springs, Idaho 83276
Monday, February 14, 2011 9:55 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while flying in a valley at an altitude between 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl), he obtained visual contact with a set of high tension power lines that were perpendicular to his location. He determined that the airplane was at a high enough altitude to maintain clearance from the wires and initiated a slight climb to gain extra clearance. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck the high tension power lines and subsequently impacted a snow covered field, which resulted in structural damage to the airframe. Recorded data retrieved from a handheld GPS (global positioning system) revealed that during the last eight minutes of the accident flight, the altitude of the airplane varied between 18 and 384 feet agl. The last recorded data point prior to the power lines showed the airplane at an altitude of about 137 feet agl. Representatives from the electrical company reported that the airplane struck one of the three static wires that were dull gray in color, located about 81 feet above the ground. The representative stated that the static wires were about 26 feet above a set of three main transmission lines that are shiny in color. The representative added that company employees reported that they had difficulty seeing the top static wires in lighting conditions similar to the day of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude in a valley.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/14/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Soda Springs
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83276
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424114N
Event Location Longitude 1110331W
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 951 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 264
Weather Observation Facility ID U78
Elevation of weather observation facility 5839
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28338
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2011 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N885AC
NTSB Number WPR11LA137
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Model 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 500-2007
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 138
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GROSSLIGHT GREG
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SIMI VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93063-3409
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name GROSSLIGHT GREG
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SIMI VALLEY
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93063-3409
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AFO
Departure City Afton
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AFO
Destination City Afton
Destination State WY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2011 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --