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CEN23LA058

2022-12-03 · Regent, North Dakota, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport N/A

Current FAA registration · N7659X

Make / Model
STINSON 108-3
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA57C4

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot failed to maintain clearance from high tension wires while maneuvering at low altitude.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while maneuvering the airplane at low altitude to observe sculptures on the ground, he did not see the high-tension wires due to diverted attention and the setting sun. The airplane collided with the wires, the vertical stabilizer sheared off, and the engine seized. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain. The empennage and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Awareness of condition
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_CEN23LA058.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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