Cessna 172L accident near Gadsden, AL
On September 29, 2004, a Cessna 172L (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gadsden, AL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 29, 2004
- Place
- Gadsden, AL
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.067°N, 85.833°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041001X01553
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 29, 2004, at 1417 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N4336Q, registered to and operated by Bald Eagle Aviation, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with power lines and the Coosa River while maneuvering in the vicinity of Gadsden, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The flight originated from Gadsden Municipal Airport, Gadsden, Alabama, on September 29, 2004, at 1300. A witness stated he heard an airplane approaching his home located next to the Coosa River. He looked out his window and observed the airplane flying about midway between the top of the trees and the river towards Wagnon's Ferry Road Crossing. He figured the pilot knew the area due to the power lines crossing the river at Wagnon's Ferry. The airplane continued past his home and disappeared from view. Another witness heard the airplane approaching his home flying towards the south. He looked out his window and observed the red and white airplane in straight and level flight above the tree tops. The airplane was observed to make a steep right turn estimated at a 45-degree angle of bank and disappeared from view. The witness heard a "pop" sound and immediately left his house to investigate. He arrived at the Coosa River and Wagnon's Ferry Road Crossing. The witness observed the power lines on both sides of the Coosa River had been broken. The airplane was located by the Etowah County Rescue Squad in
Probable cause
The flight instructors failure to maintain clearance and his inadequate visual lookout while flying low over a river resulting in an in-flight collision with a wire.
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Browse: Alabama · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
