ERA23LA198

The pilot reported that while on final approach to the destination airport the airplane unexpectedly began to descend. The pilot added power, pitched up, and arrested the descent. Seeing no obstacles in front of the airplane, the pilot elected to continue the approach and subsequently impacted power lines; the impact resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that he never saw the powerlines and therefore did not make any attempt to avoid them. The pilot reported that there were no known preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation during the flight.

On March 22, 2023, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a SC Aerostar Yak-52, N669YK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed from his home airport bound for the New Garden Airport (N57), Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania. He reported “I did not want to upset my passenger with a significant descent rate in addition to the turbulence, so, with my passenger in mind, I flew my final approach at an altitude that supported a gentle rate of descent.” He also reported that he “had to extend my downwind for slower landing traffic, which forced a longer straight in approach.” While on the final leg of the traffic pattern the airplane unexpectantly began to descend. The pilot added power and pitched up to arrest the descent. After arresting the descent, the pilot continued the approach. Witness video from a dash camera of a vehicle nearby showed the airplane impacting a set of powerlines. After impacting the powerlines, the pilot landed in a field just short of the runway. The impact with the powerlines resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported “it was physically not possible for me to see the powerlines from my seat in the aircraft at the altitude and attitude I was flying” and that he did not make any attempt to avoid the lines. In a video posted to an internet video publishing platform, the pilot recounted details of the accident, “After the airplane sank, I shoved up the power, raised the nose a bit, and stopped the sink. I could still see down the runway, so I continued the approach, didn’t see anything directly in front of me.” Furthermore, he said, “I thought I was further, closer, to the airport than I was, didn’t factor these into being a hazard potentially” when referencing the powerlines. The pilot reported that there were no known preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that the airplane performed as it normally did for the duration of the flight before the accident.