James H. Easom Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newton, Mississippi 39345
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 9:30 CDT

On June 12, 2013, about 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7045G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after striking an electrical transmission power line during approach, at James H. Easom Field Airport (M23), Newton, Mississippi. The student pilot was fatally injured, and the flight instructor was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, which was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. According to the flight instructor, on the day of the accident, he and the student took off and initially flew out to the west of the airport for a few minutes and then returned to the airport and entered a left downwind for runway 31. After turning on to the base leg of the traffic pattern he advised the student pilot that he was getting "low" and to "add" power. The student pilot however made no correction. After turning on to the final approach leg, the instructor once again advised the student pilot that he was low and to add power. The student pilot once again did not take any action so the instructor took control of the airplane, increased power, and climbed. He knew that a set of electrical transmission lines were between him and the runway and thought that he had cleared them but, the airplane hit the "top wire" and "it threw them straight down into the woods". Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had come to rest inverted next to an electrical transmission corridor right of way that crossed the final approach path approximately 2,290 feet from the threshold of runway 31. Further examination revealed that it displayed evidence of coming into contact with the "top wire", first with the propeller, and then with the nose landing gear. Examination of the electrical transmission lines revealed that the "top wire" the airplane struck was the 5/16th inch diameter static wire located above the conductors (cables) which were strung between the 75 foot high transmission towers. Examination of the airport revealed that M23 was uncontrolled and had one runway oriented in a 13/31 configuration. The runway was asphalt, and in good condition. The total length was 3,800 feet long and 75 feet wide. The runway gradient for runway 31 was 0.4 percent. It was marked with basic markings in good condition. Obstacles in the form of 109 foot tall trees located 2,600 feet from the runway threshold and 300 feet left of the centerline existed off the approach end of runway 31, which required a 22:1 slope to clear. A Pulsating Visual Approach Slope Indicator (PVASI) was located on the left side of the runway. The PVASI when used would provide a 7.00 degree glide path for visual descent guidance during approach to assure obstacle clearance. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the flight instructor held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land, and type ratings for the BE-300, CE-500, and EMB-500. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on October 2, 2012. He reported 5,850 hours of total flight experience. According to FAA records, the student pilot was issued a student pilot certificate with third-class medical on November 8, 2012. According to FAA and airplane maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1969. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed on July 1, 2012. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 10,671.7 total hours of operation.

Not Yet Reported