Raymond, MN, USA
N1814G
Champion 7ECA
The airplane impacted power lines and terrain after being observed by witnesses to be "hot dogging around in front of us and stuff." When questioned if the pilot was "showing off" the witness responded, "Yeah, I suppose." The inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
On March 22, 2003, at 1457 central standard time, a Champion 7ECA, N1814G, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a power line and terrain while maneuvering along a road near Raymond, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Willmar Municipal Airport, Willmar, Minnesota, at 1430, en route to Clara City, Minnesota. A witness, who was also a friend of the pilot and passenger, stated that he and another person were traveling along a road in a car at the time of the accident. He stated that the pilot was, "hot dogging around in front of us and stuff" along a road and field with power lines. The witness reported that the pilot was a crop duster and was "used to spinning and going up and down." When questioned if the pilot was "showing off," the witness responded, "yeah, I suppose." The witness stated that the pilot was "going to go underneath the power lines and back up and then [the pilot] must not apparently have seen it, [the] lower [power line], clipped it and took one wing off and nose-dived into the ground." Inspection of the wreckage by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot and his ostentatious display. The power lines and the pilot's maneuvering at low altitude were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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