On December 13, 1984, a Hughes 269C (registration N7401F) was involved in an aviation accident near Albermarle, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to see electrical wires during the descent, which resulted in the aircraft contacting the wires and crashing into the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to identify his location by landing in a residential construction site failed to see electrical wires, resulting in a fatal crash after losing control during the descent.
What happened
The pilot encountered an unfamiliar mountain range and decided to land in a residential construction site to determine his exact location. During the descent, the pilot failed to see electrical wires until it was too late. In the last minute, the pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting to avoid the wires. The aircraft contacted the wires and crashed into the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the events leading up to the crash. The pilot had decided to land in a residential construction site to find out his exact location after seeing an unfamiliar mountain range. The pilot failed to see electrical wires during the descent until too late. The pilot lost control of the aircraft in the last minute attempt to avoid the wires. The aircraft contacted the wires and crashed into the ground.
Findings
The pilot's decision to land in a residential construction site was a significant factor. The pilot failed to see electrical wires during the descent until too late. The pilot lost control of the aircraft in the last minute attempt to avoid the wires. The aircraft contacted the wires and crashed into the ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see electrical wires during the descent, which resulted in the aircraft contacting the wires and crashing into the ground.
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