Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS accident near Hickory, NC
On August 13, 2023, a Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hickory, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 13, 2023
- Place
- Hickory, NC
- Aircraft
- Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.773°N, 81.353°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230813192853
Official records · ERA23LA334
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On August 13, 2023, at 1128 eastern daylight time, a Scoda Aeronautica Ltda Super Petrel LS, N239WD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina. The private pilot/owner and the student pilot passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed the airplane departed Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) Hickory, North Carolina, about 1120. The airplane flew northeast toward Lake Hickory at an altitude of about 1,600 ft mean sea level (msl) and a groundspeed of about 98 knots. After arriving over Lake Hickory, the airplane turned left to the west and descended to about 900 ft msl before the ADS-B data ended. About that time, a witness recorded the airplane performing a touch-and-go landing on the water. A short time later, several other witnesses observed the airplane flying “unusually low” and “in a highly banked angle” over the water. Another witness, who was on his boat dock located about 100 yards northwest of a set of energized powerlines that spanned the lake, reported the airplane flying level about 100 to 200 ft above the water toward the powerlines. As the airplane approached the powerlines, it appeared to take a “sudden” nose-down attitude before it impacted the powerlines. There was an explosion and the airplane then tumbled into the water. The collision with the powerlines resulted in a power outage to the surrounding community of 18,000. Postaccident examination of the airplan
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while maneuvering at a low altitude over water, which resulted in a collision and loss of control.
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Browse: North Carolina
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
