Snyded PITTS S1E N27920

Summary

On 24 September 1995 at about 18:36 local time, a Snyded PITTS S1E registered N27920 was involved in an accident near Somers, New York, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. 2 people on the ground also died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 1995 at 18:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Somers, New York, United States

Coordinates

41.3301, -73.6906

Aircraft

Snyded PITTS S1E

Registration

N27920

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Danbury → Morristown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95LA225

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, WHICH RESULTED HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWER LINE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED, 'WHILE I WAS FLYING OVER WESTCHESTER, I SAW THE WATER AND WENT DOWN TO GET A CLOSER LOOK....I HEARD A LOUD BANG, LIKE A HAMMER. I LOOKED OVER AT MY WING AND NOTICED DAMAGE....I PUT THE PLANE DOWN ON THE WATER....I EXPERIENCED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WHILE I WAS FLYING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIT THE PLANE.' THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, 'DURING A DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBJECT, SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED TO BE A POWER LINE.' ADDITIONALLY, AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, A 46000 VOLT, 3/4 INCH DIAMETER POWER LINE HAD SEPARATED AND HAD DROPPED IN A RESERVOIR. AS A RESULT OF THE POWER LINE STRIKING THE WATER, THREE PERSONS WERE EJECTED FROM THEIR BOAT. TWO OF THE PERSONS DID NOT SURVIVE. THE SURVIVOR, WHO SWAM ASHORE, REPORTED HE FELT ELECTRICAL SHOCKS THROUGHOUT HIS BODY WHILE HE WAS IN THE WATER. ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVOR, HE NOTICED THE NON-SURVIVORS SWIMMING TOWARD HIM WITH 'WAVES OF BLUE ELECTRICITY IN THE WATER.' POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.