Piper PA-18-150 accident near Rio Vista, California, March 13, 2000
On March 13, 2000 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N82751, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Vista, California. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. A factor was glare from the sun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2000 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82751 · registry record · serial 18-7709194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been maneuvering low level in an area of wind generators and power lines for 30 minutes. He started a slow right climbing turn toward a new work area, which was to the right front of the airplane. The sun was behind a cloud and he could see power lines and wind generators in the new work area. Moments later the sun came from behind the cloud and temporarily blinded him. At that instant his rear seat observer told him to 'look out.' He was flying up a draw and noted wires angling across his flight path. He maneuvered to avoid them, but contacted the last wire with his right main gear. The airplane fell to the ground when the wire snapped.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,044 hours in all; 7,016 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,582 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 2000; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 088 at 9:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from SUU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.