Piper PA-12 N2964M

Summary

On 19 February 1994 at about 15:00 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N2964M, operated by Jones, Gareth B., was involved in an accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 February 1994 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Smithfield, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Middle Creek Farm (NONE)

Coordinates

35.4992, -78.3400

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N2964M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jones, Gareth B.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenansville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA051

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES. FACTORS WERE THE UNMARKED POWER LINES LOCATED UNDER THE FINAL APPROACH PATH, AND THE SUN GLARE THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT OBSERVED TWO UTILITY POLES TO THE LEFT OF THE FINAL APPROACH PATH, BUT THOUGHT HE WAS ABOVE THEM. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE APPROACH WAS MADE DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. WHILE ON FINAL, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A POWER LINE. AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ABOUT 200 FEET SHORT OF THE GRASS RUNWAY. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO VISITED THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE POWER LINES WERE NOT MARKED WITH ANY TYPE OF MATERIAL WHICH WOULD DRAW INCREASED ATTENTION TO THEIR LOCATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.