Cessna 172F N8197U

Summary

On 9 April 1995 at about 00:00 local time, a Cessna 172F registered N8197U was involved in an accident near Seneca, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 1995 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Seneca, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.6805, -82.9509

Aircraft

Cessna 172F

Registration

N8197U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Asheville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ATL95FA079

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR UTILITY LINES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DEPARTED WITH NO FIRM FLIGHT PLANS OR DESTINATION. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT TURNED SOUTH TOWARDS LAKE KEOWEE. AS THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE LAKE, THE PILOT DECIDED TO CIRCLE HIS BROTHER'S LAKE SIDE HOME. AS HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE, IT COLLIDED WITH A SET OF UTILITY LINES WHICH CROSSED THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE FELL 140 FEET INTO THE LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED CIRCULAR SCRAPE MARKS ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COWLING, ONE PROPELLER BLADE, AND THE FRONT SIDE OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.