Matheny Larry E CHRISTAVIA MK 1 N746LM

Summary

On 20 January 2018 at about 18:33 local time, a Matheny Larry E CHRISTAVIA MK 1 registered N746LM was involved in an accident near Grand Detour, Illinois, 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

20 January 2018 at 18:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Detour, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.8950, -89.4114

Aircraft

Matheny Larry E CHRISTAVIA MK 1

Registration

N746LM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Poplar Grove → Poplar Grove

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA082

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to see and avoid the power line. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s intentional flight at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was flying an experimental airplane at a low altitude along a river when the airplane struck a power line suspended 30 ft above the river, causing the airplane to cartwheel. The power line wrapped around the airplane, and the airplane descended straight down, impacting the ice-covered river. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed that the fuselage forward of the instrument panel, the engine cowling, and the engine were bent upward about 30°. The forward fuel tank between the cabin and the engine had broken open, and the smell of fuel was apparent. The airplane's propeller showed indications that the engine was producing high power when the airplane struck the power line. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine and other airplane systems showed no preimpact anomalies. Thus, the accident likely occurred because the pilot did not see the power line suspended across the river while he was flying close to the river surface.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.