Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Probable cause of AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC, registration: N254AC fatal crash: The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to see and avoid the power lines.

 
 
NTSB Identification: CEN14FA448
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Lago Vista, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/18/2015
Aircraft: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC, registration: N254AC
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
 
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

A witnesses in the area reported seeing an airplane matching the description of the accident airplane flying near the accident site at a low altitude over water.

A camera mounted to the airplane captured the accident flight. The video footage depicted the airplane flying low near terrain up until the collision with a power line.

The video did not depict any abrupt maneuvers before the accident, thus, the pilot likely did not see the wires. The airplane impacted the ground and a postimpact fire ensued.

An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:  


The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to see and avoid the power lines.