Primary finding
Probable cause
the attempted low level flight/maneuver with inadequate visual lookout by the pilot-in-command.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that while on a local cross country flight he saw a northbound freight train and decided to follow it. He said he intercepted the tracks south of the train, lined up with the tracks, and descended. He said he saw power lines at eye level and attempted to pull up, but the wires caught on the main landing gear, and flipped the airplane to the ground inverted.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 5, 1994 about 1730 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N82114, crashed after it struck power lines near Cassoday, Kansas. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The personal flight originated at the Newton-City-County Airport, Newton, Kansas at 1645, with an intended destination of the Captain Jack Thomas/El Dorado Airport, El Dorado, Kansas. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot stated he sighted a freight train moving northbound near El Dorado Lake and decided to follow it. After lining up with the railroad tracks and descending, he said he saw some power lines at eye level. He stated he attempted to pull up but the lines caught on the landing gear and flipped the airplane onto the track ballast inverted. -