Piper PA-23-250 accident near Fulton, Missouri, January 31, 2001
On January 31, 2001 at about 3:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N6754Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fulton, Missouri (Elton Hensley Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the power line during the circling approach. Factors were the power transmission wire, the plowed field, and that the pilot's lookout was not possible through the built up ice on the windshield.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2001 · about 3:01 pm local time
- Place
- Fulton, Missouri · Elton Hensley Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6754Y · registry record · serial 27-4083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on contact with a power line and subsequent impact with terrain while circling. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot stated that the weather briefing indicated tops about 8,000 feet MSL, negative icing reports, and weather at the destination was reported to be VFR with high cirrus clouds. He said that the airplane accumulated about 1/8 inch of rime ice during the climb. He stated that tops were confirmed at 20,00 feet MSL while he was enroute. He stated that he elected to return and the airplane accumulated an additional 1/8 inch of rime ice in the descent. He said he began a circle to land entering a close left downwind for runway 23 and stated that " As I turned final it was difficult to see the runway because of the ice on the windshield." He said that "the airplane struck the top ground line on the towered power lines." The airplane came to rest in a plowed field about 2,000 feet from the runway's threshold. The pilot reported no airplane mechanical malfunction failure with this flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,010 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 6,889 as pilot in command; 331 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 19, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,334 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2000; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTT Fulton MO
- Destination: M66 Hillsboro KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 3,205 ft by 47 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from COU, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI01LA076.