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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 11, 1985 · Piper PA-28-180 · N15970

Hoskins, NE

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Hoskins, NE
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Tail Number
N15970
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC85FA213

THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TELEPHONE CABLE PATRL FLT. THE ACFT WOULD NORMALLY FLY ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE BURIED CABLE AT 200 TO 300 FT AGL. WHEN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY WAS SIGHTED THE PLT WOULD FIRST RECORD THE SIGHTING ON A PORTABLE TAPE RECORDER AND THEN CALL THE TELEPHONE COMPANY ON A RADIO/TELEPHONE. THE CONTROL HEAD FOR THE RADIO/TELEPHONE OCCUPIED THE PLACE OF THE REMOVED RIGHT, REAR SEAT. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT CIRCLED TWICE IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE THE CRASH. THEY SIAD THERE WERE LOW CLOUDS WITH HAZE BUT GOOD VISIBILITY BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A SHALLOW LEFT BANK IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A MESSAGE ON A TAPE RECORDER FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE DESCRIBED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY NEAR THE CABLE IN AN AREA ONE MI W OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. TELEPHONE COMPANY PERSONNEL SAID THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLT.

Full Narrative

THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TELEPHONE CABLE PATRL FLT. THE ACFT WOULD NORMALLY FLY ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE BURIED CABLE AT 200 TO 300 FT AGL. WHEN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY WAS SIGHTED THE PLT WOULD FIRST RECORD THE SIGHTING ON A PORTABLE TAPE RECORDER AND THEN CALL THE TELEPHONE COMPANY ON A RADIO/TELEPHONE. THE CONTROL HEAD FOR THE RADIO/TELEPHONE OCCUPIED THE PLACE OF THE REMOVED RIGHT, REAR SEAT. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT CIRCLED TWICE IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE THE CRASH. THEY SIAD THERE WERE LOW CLOUDS WITH HAZE BUT GOOD VISIBILITY BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A SHALLOW LEFT BANK IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A MESSAGE ON A TAPE RECORDER FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE DESCRIBED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY NEAR THE CABLE IN AN AREA ONE MI W OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. TELEPHONE COMPANY PERSONNEL SAID THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-180
Tail NumberN15970
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 8 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:36
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data