Pilot Debrief

CESSNA R172E near Palo Pinto, TX — 2008-10-26

Final reportCEN09CA037
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Date
2008-10-26
Location
Palo Pinto, TX, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA R172E
Registration
N42FG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's intentional low-level flight and failure to maintain a visual lookout.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, his "intention was just to exercise the engine and aircraft for an hour." He flew a circular route and was returning when the airplane collided with two power lines that stretched across the river between two cliffs. He said, "[t]he terrain [was] hilly but desolate and I decided to get a closer look at the animals that were in the Brazos River bottom. Two power lines ran from the top of one cliff to another and were struck. They were on 40 foot power poles and 112 feet above the riverbed. They had a 900 foot span and no markers."

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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