Piper PA-18-150 N734

Summary

On 1 December 2004 at about 14:40 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N734 was involved in an accident near Jal, New Mexico, 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

1 December 2004 at 14:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Jal, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Na

Coordinates

32.0650, -103.5583

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N734

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Roswell → Brininstool Ran

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN05TA033

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines. Contributing factors include the power lines, the sun glare, the pilot's reduced visual lookout, the pilot’s improper in-flight planning and decision making and the pilot's failure to perform a go-around procedure after losing sight of the power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot elected to land on a paved road after circling three times to "check for obstacles and hazards." The pilot noted the power lines and "planned [his] final approach well above the power lines." During the final approach, the pilot lost sight of the power lines "due to the early morning sun." The main landing gear impacted one of the lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted in a nose down attitude causing substantial damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.