NTSB CAROL · Event
Event FTW86FA073
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING INDICATING IMC CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE POINT OF DEPARTURE AND AT REPORTING STATIONS NEAR THE POINT OF THE FIRST INTENDED LANDING. (THERE WAS NO REPORTING STATIONS AT THE AIRPORT OF INTENDED LANDING). WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGED TO VMC AT THE DEPARTURE POINT AND THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON A SPECIAL VFR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT FOR ABOUT 55 STATUTE MILES AND COLLIDED WITH A 500 FOOT RADIO ANTENNA AT A POINT ABOUT 350 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE ANTENNA WAS ON A DIRECT LINE BETWEEN THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND INTENDED LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY WAS NAVIGATING BY LORAN RADIO. WITNESSES REPORTED THE UPPER HALF OF THE IMPACTED ANTENNA WAS OBSCURED BY FOG WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WITNESSES REPORTED THE VISIBILITY TO BE ABOUT ONE MILE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1986_FTW86FA073.txt.
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