Aircraft Collides with Power Lines During Final Approach (N4980L)

What happened

The accident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach to land at a private airport. As the pilot aligned with the runway for landing, the aircraft collided with power lines situated near the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not see the power lines until just prior to impact. In an attempt to avoid the wires, he tried to fly underneath them, but the vertical stabilizer of the aircraft struck the cables. Following this collision, the aircraft crashed in an uncontrolled manner onto the runway.

Findings

The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to see and avoid the power lines during the final approach phase. The impact with the wires caused immediate loss of control, leading directly to the crash on the runway surface.