Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a powerline during an intentional low altitude maneuver.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot circled over an airstrip owned by his employer. When the people he worked with came out of the hanger, the pilot made a low circling pass and hit a powerline.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 8, 1997, at 1610 Pacific standard time, a homebuilt aircraft, a Barrigar RV-6, N812AB, collided with power lines while making a low pass over an airstrip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The purpose of the flight was to check the accuracy of instruments in the aircraft against test instruments. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot reported that he circled over the Shearers airstrip, which is owned by the company he worked for. When the people he worked for came out of the hanger, he made a low circling pass and contacted the top wire of a powerline. -