Pilot Debrief

MILLER RV6 near Williams, CA — 2013-09-24

Final reportWPR13LA420
Sign in to save
Date
2013-09-24
Location
Williams, CA, USA
Aircraft
MILLER RV6
Registration
N67GM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to fly at a low altitude, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported observing the airplane traveling very low and fast over the terrain. They then saw the airplane disappear behind a hill, followed by rising black smoke. During the postaccident on-site examination, the lowest wire of a high-tension power line that crossed over a shallow valley was found broken, and a fragment of the airplane's wing was found hanging from the next higher power line. The main wreckage was located 300 yards north of the power lines, and a postcrash fire had ensued. Toxicological testing detected ethanol in the pilot's tissues; however, the ethanol distribution was not consistent with ingestion and likely resulted from postmortem sources. The testing also detected the opioid medications tramadol and hydrocodone in the pilot's urine, indicating that he had used the medications at some time before the accident. The low level of tramadol in the blood indicates that the pilot was unlikely impaired by it at the time of the accident; however, there was insufficient evidence to determine if he was impaired by the hydrocodone at the time of the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided flying low and fast near power lines.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

Related mishaps