From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was returning from santa teresa (5T6) and decided to fly low over the river. The pilot conducted a low recon of the route and then circled back and descended over the river. During the low-level flight the top of the aircraft struck a wire strung approximately 25 feet above the water. The aircraft was destroyed and both aircraft occupants (2) sustained injuries.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM SANTA TERESA (5T6) AND DECIDED TO FLY LOW OVER THE RIVER. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A LOW RECON OF THE ROUTE AND THEN CIRCLED BACK AND DESCENDED OVER THE RIVER. DURING THE LOW-LEVEL FLIGHT THE TOP OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A WIRE STRUNG APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET ABOVE THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND BOTH AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS (2) SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.