Cessna 172M N8963V

Summary

On 5 April 1999 at about 01:15 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N8963V, operated by Mark Howell, was involved in an accident near Midlothian, Texas, United States. One person was 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

5 April 1999 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Midlothian, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4892, -96.9903

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N8963V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mark Howell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW99LA108

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the powerlines. Factors were the low ceilings and the dusk light illumination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 80 hour pilot collided with unmarked powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude at dusk. The operator reported that soon after departure, the pilot encountered lowering ceilings while en route to a nearby non-towered airport. The ceilings continued to drop to about 300 feet, when the pilot elected to execute a 180 degree turn and return to Grand Prairie. While en route, the pilot heard a loud pop and saw a bright flash of light. The engine sputtered, but then continued to run normally. The pilot reported that he was following the railroad tracks southbound at low altitude en route to the non-towered airport when he collided with powerlines. The location of the collision with the wires was located by the FAA inspectors with the assistance of the power company. The broken wire was found at the location where the railroad tracks make a shallow right turn. The powerline was suspended 28 feet above the tracks. Paint transfers on portions of the severed wire matched the color scheme of the wings. The damage to the right wing matches the southbound right turn scenario described by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.