LAX00LA267

The pilot was on approach to the dirt airstrip where he based his airplane when he encountered wind gusts, which he said buffeted him around and caused a loss of lift. The airplane came into contact with power lines, which were about 30 feet agl. The airplane descended nose first and struck the ground.

On July 15, 2000, at 1150 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160, N8768D, collided with power lines on approach to a dirt airstrip at Lancaster, California. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage during the contact with the power lines. The personal cross-country flight was conducted under CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane had taken off from Tehachapi at 1100, and was destined for Little Buttes Antique Airstrip in Lancaster. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed.

The pilot said he was lined up on approach to the dirt runway in a westerly direction when the wind buffeted him around and caused a loss of lift. The tail wheel of the airplane struck a power line about 30 feet above ground level (agl), and the airplane descended to a nose first ground impact. The impact caused damage to the propeller, the landing gear, left rear strut and bottom of the fuselage.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the accident site at the request of the Safety Board stated that the power lines were about 30 feet agl, and that they were marked with orange balls. Winds at nearby Lancaster Fox Field at the time of the accident were 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 22 knots.