What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 16, 1997, at 1836 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N6320E, registered to and operated by a private owner under title 14 CFR part 91, was destroyed when it collided with power lines during cruise flight near Manchaca, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight that departed austin, Texas, enroute to san marcos, Texas. A flight plan was not filed. According to a witness, who was interviewed by an FAA inspector, the airplane's engine was operating normally when it flew over his house, collided with high tension power lines, and then rolled inverted before impacting trees. The outboard section of the right wing was severed and the cabin top separated from the fuselage. No fire, no NMAC.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 16, 1997, AT 1836 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N6320E, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE OWNER UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES DURING CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR MANCHACA, TEXAS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED AUSTIN, TEXAS, ENROUTE TO SAN MARCOS, TEXAS. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, WHO WAS INTERVIEWED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN IT FLEW OVER HIS HOUSE, COLLIDED WITH HIGH TENSION POWER LINES, AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED BEFORE IMPACTING TREES. THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED AND THE CABIN TOP SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. NO FIRE, NO NMAC.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.