Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Silt, CO — 2021-01-31

Final reportCEN21LA119
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Date
2021-01-31
Location
Silt, CO, USA
Airport
RIL
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
N4376Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a local sightseeing flight when the airplane impacted high-tension transmission wires. The airplane came to rest about 600 ft past the wires, and the upper 2-foot section of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were separated and located about 100 ft from the wires. Postaccident examination revealed no malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided flying at low altitude near high-tension wires.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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