Aircraft collision with power line near interstate highway

Casualties unknown • Winslow, AZ, US

An aircraft collided with a low-altitude power line while flying past a roadside shop, resulting in a crash approximately 480 feet from the location.

What happened

While in flight, a passenger on board the aircraft used a cellular telephone to contact an acquaintance working at a curio shop situated next to an interstate highway. The passenger notified the acquaintance that the aircraft would be flying over the shop's location.

The aircraft arrived over the area and continued traveling in an easterly direction at a low altitude past the curio shop. Shortly after the occupants of the aircraft and the acquaintance exchanged waves, the airplane struck a north-south oriented power line that spanned across the highway. The power line was positioned approximately 33 feet above ground level.

Following the collision with the severed line, the crew lost control of the aircraft. The plane crashed approximately 480 feet from the acquaintance at the shop.

Probable cause

The aircraft collided with a power line positioned 33 feet above the ground while flying at a low altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-03-15 Cessna 180 accident near Winslow, AZ?

An aircraft collided with a low-altitude power line while flying past a roadside shop, resulting in a crash approximately 480 feet from the location.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-03-15 involved a Cessna 180, registration N1520C, at Winslow, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft collided with a power line positioned 33 feet above the ground while flying at a low altitude.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X03145. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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