This May 2008 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.
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Brookshire, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was not current and did not meet the qualifications to act as pilot in command at the time of the accident flight because he had not had a flight review in over two years and did not have any recent night experience as outlined in the FARs. He was practicing visual approaches and landings on a dark night. On his fourth or fifth pattern, the airplane was taking off following a full-flap touch-and-go. He landed about one-third down the 4,100-foot runway and the roll-out was longer than normal, but he elected to attempt another approach. During climbout the pilot saw the orange marker balls on the power lines off the departure end of the runway and realized he could not clear them. He attempted to dive below the wires when the plane struck a fence at the departure end of the runway.
Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to duck under marked transmission lines and his failure to maintain clearance from the fence. Contributing to the accident was the marked transmission lines.
For more information: NTSB.gov
