What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot and passenger were flying downstream at low level (approx 50 feet) as witnessed by local resident. Aircraft struck electrical distribution wires crossing the river at a height of approx 150' to 200' that caused the aircraft to pitch violently nose down into the river. The power lines were intact but power was interupted to local communities. The aircraft broke through 2" of ice, 12 " of water and impacted a sand bar causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The left main gear was located at the base of the power lines which was approximently 100' from where the aircraft came to rest inverted. Post-accident investigation revealed no signs of mechanical failure. Wire signatures were observed on the left main gear and left shock absorber.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FLYING DOWNSTREAM AT LOW LEVEL (APPROX 50 FEET) AS WITNESSED BY LOCAL RESIDENT. AIRCRAFT STRUCK ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION WIRES CROSSING THE RIVER AT A HEIGHT OF APPROX 150' TO 200' THAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH VIOLENTLY NOSE DOWN INTO THE RIVER. THE POWER LINES WERE INTACT BUT POWER WAS INTERUPTED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE AIRCRAFT BROKE THROUGH 2" OF ICE, 12 " OF WATER AND IMPACTED A SAND BAR CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE POWER LINES WHICH WAS APPROXIMENTLY 100' FROM WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO SIGNS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. WIRE SIGNATURES WERE OBSERVED ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND LEFT SHOCK ABSORBER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.