Piper PA-34-200 N16453

Summary

On 9 January 2003 at about 03:45 local time, a Piper PA-34-200 registered N16453 was involved in an accident near Bountiful, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 2003 at 03:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bountiful, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Bountiful-Skypark Airport (BTF)

Coordinates

40.8694, -111.9272

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200

Registration

N16453

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wendover → Bountiful

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN03LA031

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines and his improper in flight planning and decision to maneuver on a go around without noting where the power lines were. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inability to see the power lines, the dark night, the fog, and the power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot set up for a traffic pattern to runway 16. There was fog observed to the west of the runway, but no fog over the runway. On short final with runway lights in sight and everything going as planned, the pilot said they descended into a patch of fog. The pilot initiated a go around, applying full power, pitching up and making a turn to the east. Seconds later the airplane struck power lines breaking the nose gear rearward and damaging the bottom portions of several airplane bulkheads and stringers aft of the nose gear. The pilot noticed the unsafe gear warning lights and elected to lower the gear. The pilot noted the nose gear light was not lit. The pilot proceeded to another airport and performed an uneventful approach. On landing, the airplane's nose cowling was set down on the runway. The airplane skidded down the runway on its nose cowling until it came to a stop. An examination of the accident area showed broken power poles and downed power lines. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.