Accident Overview
A personal transportation flight ended in a collision with a cable while the pilot attempted to return to visual flight conditions. The aircraft crashed during a cross-country flight, resulting in serious injury to the pilot and fatal injury to the passenger.
Preflight Actions
Before departure, the pilot telephoned a relative at the destination, located 118 miles away. The relative informed the pilot that the weather at the destination (Brazil) was good. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing and did not file a flight plan.
Flight and Encounter with Fog
The pilot stated that he departed in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. While cruising between 1,800 and 2,000 feet, the aircraft entered heavy fog. At that time, the aircraft was approximately 69 miles south of the destination. The pilot began a left turn with the intention of returning to VFR conditions.
Collision
During the turn, the aircraft descended and struck the bottom cable of a high-tension line located 80 feet above ground level. The impact caused serious injuries to the pilot and fatal injuries to the passenger.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted that the pilot did not obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan prior to departure. The aircraft was flying in VFR conditions initially but encountered heavy fog at cruising altitude. The pilot’s attempt to return to VFR conditions by executing a left turn was unsuccessful as the aircraft descended into the cable.