Cessna 140 N76342

Summary

On 23 March 1994 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N76342, operated by Vassilev, James H., was involved in an accident near Celina, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 1994 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Celina, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

36.5410, -85.4992

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N76342

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vassilev, James H.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gainesboro → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA067

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TRANSMISSION WIRE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING LOW, OVER THE CUMBERLAND RIVER, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE RIVER. HIS PASSENGER, WHO WAS NOT A PILOT, WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE PILOT WAS ISSUED HIS STUDENT CERTIFICATE 12 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND AT THAT TIME REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 385 HOURS. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE WIRE WHICH WAS SEVERED BY THE AIRPLANE WAS ERECTED ABOUT 90 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE RIVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.