Cessna 172N N737FJ

Summary

On 6 January 1991 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N737FJ, operated by Arthur C. Hunter, was involved in an accident near Ukiah, California, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 1991 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ukiah, California, United States

Coordinates

39.1208, -123.2804

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N737FJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Arthur C. Hunter

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willits → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA068

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR ALL OBSTRUCTIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FLYING DOWN A RIVER VALLEY AT ABOUT 800 FT AGL AS HE AND HIS PASSENGERS WERE LOOKING OVER POTENTIAL TIMBER CUTTING AREAS. THE FLIGHT CROSSED A SADDLE IN THE MOUNTAINS WHICH REDUCED THE GROUND CLEARANCE TO ABOUT 300 FT. SUDDENLY, HE SAW AN UNMARKED HIGH TENSION POWER LINE DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE INITIATED A DIVING LEFT TURN IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE WIRE; HOWEVER, THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING STRUCK THE WIRE. THE PILOT SAID THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DIFFICULT IN THE ROLL AXIS. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO UKAIH, WHERE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE POWER LINE CROSSED PERPENDICULAR TO THE VALLEY WITH THE LINE SUSPENDED FROM TOWERS ON TOP OF RIDGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE VALLEY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.