Fairchild M-62 N53956

Summary

On 13 August 2011 at about 17:00 local time, a Fairchild M-62 registered N53956, operated by Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum, was involved in an accident near Madrid, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 August 2011 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Madrid, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.8253, -93.8411

Aircraft

Fairchild M-62

Registration

N53956

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boone → Ankeny

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA569

2 people died.

The pilot's improper decision to conduct low-level flight along a river, which resulted in a collision with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the accident airplane flying low along a river. A witness located near the accident site reported that the airplane struck power lines suspended above the river. The airplane subsequently impacted a sandbar along the river. The postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. Toxicological testing revealed the presence of a medication commonly prescribed for depressive illness. In addition, the pilot had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. However, it was not possible to determine the level of medication present or the extent that fatigue might have affected the pilot, if at all, during the accident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.