Cessna 172F N8515U

Summary

On 2 January 1983 at about 16:45 local time, a Cessna 172F registered N8515U was involved in an accident near Hancock, Maryland, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 January 1983 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hancock, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Potomac Airpark (W35)

Coordinates

39.7005, -78.1705

Aircraft

Cessna 172F

Registration

N8515U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hancock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL83FIG03

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOP TWO WIRES OF A POWERLINE DURING A LOW ALTITUDE SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT ALONG THE POTOMAC RIVER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS MAINTAINING VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND SHOULD AN EMERGENCY LANDING BECOME NECESSARY. HE WAS STAYING HIGH ENOUGH FOR CLEARANCE OF THE TREES. HE STATED THAT APPARENTLY THE TERRAIN WAS GETTING HIGHER WITHOUT HIS AWARENESS AND SUDDENLY THE WIRES BECAME VISIBLE JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION. ONE WIRE CONTACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED ON A ROCKY LEDGE ON AN ISLAND IN THE RIVER. THE FREE END OF ONE OF THE WIRES RECOILED ONTO HIGHWAY I-70 AND STRUCK TWO CARS CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO 2 PERSONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.