Fatal Distractions

The NTSB found that a pilot distraction created by posting to social media in flight during a low-altitude pipeline patrol was the probable cause of a crash involving a Cessna 182.

The NTSB's final report on an aviation accident reveals that a pilot was conducting a low-level pipeline patrol flight in good daytime weather conditions when their aircraft struck a radio tower guy wire, resulting in the left-wing separating from the fuselage. The plane subsequently crashed and caught fire in a dirt field near the radio tower. Mechanical failure was ruled out as a cause of the accident.

The pilot had been flying at an altitude ranging from 475 to 800 feet above ground level (AGL) with the intention of patrolling to the right of the pipeline.

However, approximately one minute before the crash, the aircraft deviated to the left side of the pipeline. The NTSB report highlights that this deviation from standard procedure may have obstructed the pilot's view of the pipeline.

Crucially, during the investigation, it was discovered that the pilot had posted a Snapchat video showing the terrain in front of the aircraft while it was still several miles southeast of the accident site. This video was posted around 35 seconds before the accident occurred. The use of the mobile device distracted the pilot, diminishing their attention to monitoring the flight path.

In the final moments before the crash, the pilot appeared to be attempting to avoid the tower's guy wires. The aircraft was in a shallow right turn, climbing from an altitude of 475 feet AGL, and its last radar position was 600 feet east-southeast of the tower, heading towards the guy wires. At that point, the aircraft was flying at 1,370 feet mean sea level (MSL), traveling at a speed of 104 knots, and climbing at a rate of 1,575 feet per minute.

Source Google Earth

In summary, the NTSB's final report attributes the accident to the pilot's distraction caused by the use of a mobile device shortly before the crash. This distraction led to the aircraft deviating from its intended path and ultimately colliding with the radio tower guy wire, resulting in a tragic accident.

Source

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103091