Piper L 21B N99031

Summary

On 8 July 2017 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper L 21B registered N99031 was involved in an accident near Big Timber, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2017 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Timber, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.8419, -109.8942

Aircraft

Piper L 21B

Registration

N99031

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Timber → Big Timber

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA145

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to fly at low altitude in the vicinity of power lines, which resulted in a wire strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, after departure, he followed the course of a river at an altitude about level with the treetops. Although the pilot was aware of powerlines in the area, he did not see them before the airplane collided with the powerlines about 90 ft above ground level. The airplane subsequently nosed down and impacted the river, resulting in substantial damage. According to the manager of the airport from which the airplane departed, it is not uncommon for pilots to fly at low altitudes in that area to avoid turbulent air in the summertime. He further reported that the power lines were not equipped with aerial marker balls. Following the accident, the airport manager agreed to install signage in the fixed base operator at the airport to caution pilots of the presence of power lines in that area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.