Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB CEN20LA401
Piper PA32 — Kokomo, IN
| Date | September 20, 2020 |
| Location | Kokomo, IN |
| Aircraft | Piper PA32 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Approach-VFR pattern final Collision during takeoff/land |
| Pilot age | 63 |
| Pilot total time | 1,120 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 36 hrs |
| Fatalities | 3, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Contributed to outcome
What happened
The airplane owner reported that the accident pilot had volunteered to fly the airplane in support of a charity fundraising event. It was the pilot’s first flight of the day. The accident pilot was a local pilot and had flown the airplane for the event the entire day prior with no issues, so he was familiar with the airport’s approach. A witness reported that the airplane appeared low on the approach. He noted the flaps were extended and the engine was running. Then the airplane’s nose-gear and the right main landing gear “clipped” a utility pole. The airplane subsequently impacted in a cornfield and immediately caught fire. The witness added that it did not appear the airplane tried to climb to avoid the power lines before striking the utility pole.
The airplane struck the tops of a 79 ft wood power pole and a 61 ft wood dual pole utility tower on the approach to runway 18 about 875 ft north of the approach end of runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to see the utility poles while on the approach.