FTW99LA135

The pilot reported on his tenth night landing to the runway, the approach was a little high, so he elected to do another landing. However, on the next approach, he 'overcompensated and fell below the glide slope,' and the airplane impacted a wire. The wire wrapped around the propeller, the engine lost power, and the airplane touched down in a corn field, approximately 200-300 feet short of the runway. After touchdown, the wire 'yanked' the airplane around to the left, and it came to rest upright 90 degrees from the approach heading.

On May 19, 1999, at 2100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N6558C, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged after impacting a wire during final approach to the Taylor Municipal Airport near Taylor, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Taylor Municipal Airport at 1918.

The pilot reported to the FAA inspector and in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that on his tenth landing to runway 17, the approach was a little high because he was a "little late in setting up," so he elected to do another landing and set up a little earlier. However, on the next approach, he "overcompensated and fell below the glide slope." He then "decided to halt the descent and fly level" until intercepting the glide slope before continuing the descent. "I based my decision on the fact that the path to the runway was over a corn field that sloped downwards towards the runway and there were no fences, trees, or other obstructions such as towers." On short final, he checked the approach speed, which was 80 knots, flaps were set at twenty five degrees, and gauges and indicators were all "normal." He looked up and "saw the landing light reflect on the power lines just before contact." After contact with the power lines, the engine quit, but he "still had control of the plane." He continued "flying the plane in a glide to the runway." The pilot further reported that he would have made it to the runway, but "my progress was halted by the power line wrapped around the propeller." The aircraft touched down in a corn field, approximately 200-300 feet short of the runway. After touchdown, the wire "yanked" the aircraft around to the left, and it came to rest upright 90 degrees from the approach heading.

An examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that a wire was wrapped around the propeller and the left wing was partially separated from the fuselage.