What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was giving rides to relatives for the holiday, flying down the brazos river bed. Stated he had done this several times in a specific area at around 30-50 feet AGL. Aircraft hit powerlines which sheared off the right wings. Aircraft spun into riverbed landing inverted opposite direction of flight.
When pulled from aircraft pilot was asking what happened (was unaware of wh was hit)
During interview pilot stated he had missed his que to bank out of riverbed and was further south than normal. Was aware of high power lines in the area but did not know these low power lines were there. They are not shown on the sectional. Estimated height of wires being only 50-60 feet off the river bed floor.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS GIVING RIDES TO RELATIVES FOR THE HOLIDAY, FLYING DOWN THE BRAZOS RIVER BED. STATED HE HAD DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN A SPECIFIC AREA AT AROUND 30-50 FEET AGL. AIRCRAFT HIT POWERLINES WHICH SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT WINGS. AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO RIVERBED LANDING INVERTED OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.
WHEN PULLED FROM AIRCRAFT PILOT WAS ASKING WHAT HAPPENED (WAS UNAWARE OF WH WAS HIT)
DURING INTERVIEW PILOT STATED HE HAD MISSED HIS QUE TO BANK OUT OF RIVERBED AND WAS FURTHER SOUTH THAN NORMAL. WAS AWARE OF HIGH POWER LINES IN THE AREA BUT DID NOT KNOW THESE LOW POWER LINES WERE THERE. THEY ARE NOT SHOWN ON THE SECTIONAL. ESTIMATED HEIGHT OF WIRES BEING ONLY 50-60 FEET OFF THE RIVER BED FLOOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.