Casualties unknown

THE AG aircraft sustains gear damage after striking power lines during climb (N57878)

Muleshoe, TX, US

On February 28, 1986, a Piper PA-36-300 (registration N57878) was involved in an aviation accident near Muleshoe, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft climbing after a low pass struck overhead wires, causing the landing gear to snap off before a belly slide.

What happened

The aircraft was operating at an airfield with known obstructions, specifically power lines located at the north end of the field. To clear these hazards, the pilot executed a low pass over the area. Following this maneuver, the pilot initiated a climb to gain altitude.

As the aircraft began to level off after the climb, the main landing gear made contact with the top wire of the power line structure. The wire remained intact and did not break upon impact. The collision caused the landing gear assembly to snap off completely. Following the loss of the gear, the aircraft descended rapidly toward the ground.

The aircraft impacted the surface on its belly. It slid approximately 30 feet along the ground before coming to a complete stop.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X32864. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.