DURHAM, ME, USA
N942PS
ASSELYN XENAIR CH701
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM HIS BACKYARD AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT AFTER REACHING 'TREE TOP LEVEL,' THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED 'A GOOD GUST OF WIND' AND WENT INTO ABOUT A 60 DEGREE LEFT BANK. HE STATED THAT A POWER LINE WAS ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY AND THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE POWER LINE, THEN CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.
On March 3, 1993, at about 1600 eastern standard time, an Asselyn Zenair CH701 homebuilt airplane, N942PS, owned and operated by Phillip Peter Asselyn of Durham, Maine, sustained substantial damage at impact with power lines and terrain immediately after takeoff from a private airstrip in Durham. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot: "After preflight and run up I departed my backyard field to the southwest. The weather was clear, about 2 inches of soft snow on the ground and no noticeable wind. The sun was right in my eyes. I proceeded with normal short field takeoff and climbed normally to about tree top level. I had 1/2 flaps in. About tree top level a good gust of wind hit me and the aircraft went into about a 60 [degree] bank to the left. The power lines were only about 200 feet away and I did not have time to recover. I struck the power line and lost consciousness. . . " No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LIFT-OFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION AND PROXIMITY OF THE POWER LINE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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