Wirestrike Accident Republic RC-3 N6072K,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 149160
 
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Date:Saturday 15 September 2012
Time:09:50
Type:Silhouette image of generic RC3 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Republic RC-3
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N6072K
MSN: 252
Total airframe hrs:1027 hours
Engine model:Franklin 6A8-215-B8F
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Weiss Lake, Cedar Bluff, AL -   United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Guntersville, AL (8A1)
Destination airport:Cedar Bluff, AL
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot of the amphibious airplane departed his home airport and flew to a lake to visit a friend who lived on the shore of the lake. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot normally approached the lake from the north, made a left 180-degree turn, and then landed to the north. On the day of the accident, however, the wind was calm, and instead of landing to the north, the pilot flew over his friend's house from the west, about 400 feet above ground level, made a left 180-degree turn, and began a descent toward the surface of the lake. During the descent, the airplane contacted a set of electrical transmission lines. During the impact, the airplane's forward motion almost completely stopped, it rolled to the right until it was inverted, then fell to the surface of the lake and sank.

Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the electrical transmission lines revealed that they were unmarked where they crossed the lake. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and local witnesses, the lines were hard to see and did not contrast well with the surrounding terrain due to the color of the sky, water, and cloud cover. However, the pilot should have been aware of the lines, because they were depicted on the sectional chart for the area, and he had landed on the lake several times before the accident flight.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines during final approach to landing.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: ERA12LA562
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 12 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
15-Sep-2012 14:20 Alpine Flight Added
17-Sep-2012 08:16 RobertMB Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative]
21-Sep-2012 07:18 harro Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
28-Nov-2017 13:26 ASN Update Bot Updated [Registration, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]

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