CHI95LA324

The airplane encountered an updraft followed by a downdraft while crossing over a barn on short final approach to land. Shortly after crossing over the barn, the airplane began losing altitude. The pilot applied full power, but was unable to arrest the sink rate. The left wing of the airplane contacted and severed a powerline wire. After that, the pilot was unable to maintain runway align, and the airplane touched down on the left edge of the runway with the left wing contacting a corn crop. The airplane then veered into the crop and traveled approximately 60 feet further before coming to a stop.

On September 16, 1995, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3497T, collided with a powerline on final approach to land at Camp Lake Airstrip, Camp Lake, Wisconsin, while on a personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight originated from Camp Lake, Wisconsin, at 1440 cdt.

The pilot reported that while on final approach for runway 18, with 1/4 flaps at 80 mph, the airplane passed over a barn. He reported that the airplane gained 20 to 30 feet of altitude while over the barn and developed a sink rate once past the barn. He stated he applied full power but the sink rate could not be arrested. The pilot continued to report, "Level flight was regained and a climb initiated but could not avoid the utility wire." The left wing of the airplane contacted and severed the powerline.

According to the pilot, the airplane entered a nose high attitude and became aligned with the left side of the runway which was bordered by a corn crop. The pilot reported that in an attempt to compensate for the heading, the airplane banked 45 degrees and was now headed toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reported he "corrected again and regained level flight at very low altitude over the crop field... ." He stated that upon touchdown, the left wing was contacting the corn crop and the airplane veered left into the corn, traveling approximately 60 feet prior to coming to rest.

The pilot stated he could have prevented the accident by using a steeper approach angle, carrying extra airspeed during the approach, and by landing 200 to 300 feet further down the runway.