19990625007739A

Acft struck a telephone line while flying over a river, and the acft crashed into the river and was destroyed, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) on Friday, June 25, 1999, at 100 hours local time, a Boeing B-A75-N1, N61467, owned and operated by Mr. Tim r. bronson of pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was flying down the river 10 miles north of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania when he struck some wires, caught fire, and crashed into the river. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for flight operating under 14 CFR 91. (.4) the pilot stated that while in cruise flight, above a river, the airplane 'apparently struck an unseen object and departed controlled flight.' He thought the object was an unmarked cable that ran across the river. He had noticed these cables on previous flights because they were usually marked with orange balls. The pilot stated there were no mechanical deficiencies that may have led to the accident. A witness observed the aircraft pitch up, roll hard to the left, impact the ground 'straight up and down', and catch fire. An FAA inspector reported there were telephone wires 50-150 feet high across the river.