What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On December 2, 1998, at approximately 14:45 CST, a holiman pietenpol air camper homebuilt airplane, N396S, was substantially damaged upon collision with a power line while maneuvering west of England, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The experimental airplane was owned and operated by the pilot/builer under title 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight. Witnesses stated the airplane was maneuvering at low altitude, struck a small diameter power line at approximately 30 feet AGL, and impacted level, smooth ground approximately 200 feet beyond the power line. It was reported that the engine was heard to be running normally until impact with the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DECEMBER 2, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 14:45 CST, A HOLIMAN PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, N396S, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED UPON COLLISION WITH A POWER LINE WHILE MANEUVERING WEST OF ENGLAND, ARKANSAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT/BUILER UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE AREA FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, STRUCK A SMALL DIAMETER POWER LINE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AGL, AND IMPACTED LEVEL, SMOOTH GROUND APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET BEYOND THE POWER LINE. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.