The pilot was conducting a planned flight with the passenger in the PT-17 near Rainbow, Texas.
He was flying about 30 feet above ground level in an open riverbed area when, about the time he elected to climb out of the area, the plane hit unmarked wires that crossed the river.
The airplane crashed in the shallow river water and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger was seriously injured.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper decision to conduct an intentional low altitude flight which resulted in a collision with wires and impact with terrain.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This December 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
A tip for those who think they need to fly low:
Wires are difficult to see especially flying toward the sun. The utility poles are not. So look for polls before you get very low.
For several years I was paid to fly passengers in a PT-17 Stearman out of the Washington, Missouri Airport. West of the airport was river botton land, flat with no wires, fences, livestock, buildings or people, etc. It was a perfect place to fly just feet above the ground. I would take a test run at a safe altitude ever day, before passengers, to check for any charges. I actually did this for two routes, one for a half hour ride and another for hour rides.
I know with this revelation I will be criticized but there were other factors that were also taken into account that made every flight one that was safe and enjoyable for my passengers.
So I’m here to defend low level above ground flight as long as it’s done safely and legally.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes
I gave up flying with my age reached mid 70s. The reason I did this was I found I was staying behind the airplane when flying. Whatever I took off I always wanted at least a thousand feet in case I needed to make a hand engine off Landing. I really enjoyed being above 5,000 ft because some of the towers are up to 3,000 ft. It was my goal to reach those golden years. Except I have never found them to be golden. I enjoyed sitting in the left seat of my Cessna 182.
Edwin I know you’re love of being in the left seat having a 182 for over 32 years , my wife and I enjoyed many flights together. So having reached 78 yrs it was time to sell it and buy a tractor and snowblower no more shoveling ❄️❄️❄️. I still can not resist looking up when I hear a plane over head.
Better keep the eyes open whether you are high or low. Mistakes are magnifed the lower you go. Low flying is not dangerous if you don’t hit anything. Just ask any crop duster. Keep looking!
“Unmarked”?….funny.
I cannot understand why pilots don’t want to realize low flying will kill you sooner than later. I fly LSA but mostly weight shift controll microlight (WCM)and even with my Trike I climb and get to a altitude where there are no chance of hitting wires but also in case of an engine out altitude gives you so mutch more options. I fly mostly in/over the South Africa bush. The only time I fly low is when I have to do game counting over my own farm where I know where all the wires and obstacles ect are. That is work, not just buggering around and I don’t like to fly at that altitude.