According to the pilot, while flying over a river at an altitude of about 100 feet above water and ground level, at 250 knots, the Aero Vodochody 39 hit unmarked power line wires that spanned the river near Grand Junction, Colorado.
The power line wires are clearly identified on the Visual Flight Rules Sectional Aeronautical Chart.
The pilot immediately established a climb and returned to the airport without further incident.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose, left wing, and vertical stabilizer.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power line wires while maneuvering at low altitude.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA096
This May 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Another perfect example of,” bad decision making”. How can we correct this???
As Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) once proclaimed;”Man’s got to know his (her) limitations”!
Well, I think he had his head “UP & Locked” at best. Yes, I concur with a violation forthcoming, too. No reason for conducting any flight like that without a waiver,i.e, movie, advertisement, or what ever. Speed, property, and human life all in danger.
Another example of more money than sense.
Not mentioned in the NTSB report was the pilot cut the powerlines over a freeway next to a dam clearly marked on aeronautical charts. Several vehicles on the freeway were damaged by the whip lashing cables. Somewhere in the regs is something about “careless and reckless…” oh, and 250 kts over a freeway at 100 feet AGL (or perhaps LESS)? What about 1,000′ from large numbers of people or buildings? The pilot is lucky he didn’t kill several people in the resulting tangle of high voltage lines. The PUD that owns and operates that well marked dam spent several thousand dollars cleaning up the mess, and hundreds of homes and businesses were without power for days. He needs to lose his license. What a great example of responsible and safe airmanship!
If you’re going to knowingly and intentionally do something as risky as flying low down a river at a relatively high speed (bird strikes?) you have to assume there will be electrical power lines crossing it somewhere. Find them on a sectional chart beforehand to pinpoint their location.