Aircraft Collides with Unmarked Power Lines During Final Approach (N739UD)

What happened

The aircraft was operating on final approach to a private airstrip when it collided with overhead power lines. Following the impact, the pilot executed a forced landing in a field situated next to the runway. The power lines involved were not marked with any visible indicators or warning devices.

The investigation

Post-accident examination revealed that the collision occurred due to the presence of unmarked wires. The pilot had previously reported awareness of large power lines located near the approach end of Runway 36. However, the pilot was unaware of smaller power lines that were positioned directly above the larger ones, which obscured them from view.

Findings

The primary contributing factor to this accident was the failure to identify and avoid unmarked power lines during the final phase of flight. The presence of smaller wires above larger ones created a visual obstruction that prevented the pilot from detecting the hazard in time to avoid collision.