FAIRCHILD M-62 — Madrid, IA, 2011

FAIRCHILD M-62 — Madrid, IA

2 fatal High-time pilotLow altitude

Date	August 13, 2011
Location	Madrid, IA
Aircraft	FAIRCHILD M-62
Purpose of flight	Personal
Conditions	Day · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Maneuvering-low-alt flying Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot age	67
Pilot total time	7,000 hrs · High time
Time in type	25 hrs
Fatalities	2

Probable cause

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

NTSB findings

Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

What happened

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.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.