Plane crashed into river after clipping power lines - 2 fatalities

[SEB]

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/plane-crash-into-columbia-river-causes-power-outage-in-kennewick/article_861ebda9-53d3-4c94-bb1d-c8427674afe7.html

 

[Kenny Phillips]

Clipping power lines over a body of water should be a much rarer event, but two other similar incidents come to mind. Certainly someone likely used to flying over water, as there are floats wrong-side-up.
Edit: lots of pictures and more description here: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article316257055.html

 

[Tools]

Well, I’ve seen lots of HUGE power lines crossing large rivers where you’d least expect them…

I have been surprised by them a few times. No close calls, but got me thinking, and keeps me pretty diligent.

They are VERY HIGH often, vicinity of Chatt and the Tennessee river comes to mind. People feel safe buzzing around low over the water.

 

[kgruber]

One should ALWAYS pass over the towers...............never the lines. 60 years ago I almost went through the power lines at the Desception Pass Bridge. I actually saw the lines at the LAST minute and went under them. You'll ALWAYS be safe over the towers.

Two other airplanes since have been snagged by the Desception Pass power lines. The airplanes were never found/recovered.

 

[skyking3286]

Looks like a c170. Location is deceptively easy to miss power lines. The bridge gets your attention and the marina is closer to shore, where the power lines are located. A lot of visual distraction.

 

[Jim K]

It was a 195

 

[Lowflynjack]

 

[Flying Keys]

Some context:

Here’s a ground view of the powerlines and the bridge from Clover Island, just 590’ due west of the bridge.



The lines run not quite parallel to the bridge - the distance to the lines from the bridge on the south (Kennewick) bank is about 150’, then diverging to 590’ at Clover island, and finally to 1100’ at the north (Pasco) bank. The towers are listed at 152’ AGL compared to the bridge’s published height of 246’ AGL.

Powerline height (also added a red line to illustrate their path):


Bridge tower height:


Also a view of the sectional, with the approximate location of the obstructions indicated by the red arrow (this is not indicative of the flight path nor the exact crash site):



Note this occurred inside the KPSC class delta.

 

[SEB]

 

[SEB]

I wouldn’t figure out how to post multiple images in one comment so here is the rest of what has been reported.

 

[wilkersk]

One should ALWAYS pass over the towers...............never the lines. 60 years ago I almost went through the power lines at the Desception Pass Bridge. I actually saw the lines at the LAST minute and went under them. You'll ALWAYS be safe over the towers.

Two other airplanes since have been snagged by the Desception Pass power lines. The airplanes were never found/recovered.

View attachment 152896

The Navy flying club had a VFR arrival/departure that involved Coronet Bay/Deception Pass/Monkey Hill. It was at 800' msl (which was pretty damned low above ground). I never even recall worrying about power lines. Now you've got me wondering.