Erickson (Glasair) SHA GLASAIR TD N434SW

Summary

On 15 December 2003 at about 22:16 local time, a Erickson (Glasair) SHA GLASAIR TD registered N434SW was involved in an accident near Vansycle, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 December 2003 at 22:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Vansycle, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.5728, -122.0718

Aircraft

Erickson (Glasair) SHA GLASAIR TD

Registration

N434SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yakima → Walla Walla

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA027

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance with the anemometer pole/wires during low altitude flight. Contributing factors were the pole and the pilot's low altitude flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger departed Yakima destined for Walla Walla, Washington, and en route flew through an area of wind turbines and associated anemometer poles measuring 50 meters in height. An ear witness reported hearing an explosive sound and noted smoke in the direction of the sound. Upon investigating the sound, the witness discovered the aircraft ground impact site about 1000 feet east-northeast of a broken anemometer pole. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the accident site and the pilot had logged more than 11,200 hours of flight experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.