On January 21, 1987, a Beech A36 (registration N6321X) operated by Phillip C. Kidd was involved in an aviation accident near Taos, NM. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting a night VFR approach to runway 22 at Taos, New Mexico, struck high-voltage power lines but managed to land the aircraft safely despite substantial damage.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a night visual flight rules (VFR) landing approach to runway 22 at Taos Regional Airport in New Mexico. During the final phase of the approach, the aircraft encountered high-voltage power transmission lines that ran perpendicular to the runway alignment. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe.
Despite the collision with the utility infrastructure, the pilot retained control of the aircraft throughout the remainder of the descent and landing sequence. The aircraft was successfully landed on the runway without further incident. Post-accident inspection confirmed the extent of the structural damage, but the pilot reported no injuries.
Findings
The primary factor in this event was the interaction between the aircraft's flight path and the overhead power lines during a night operation. The pilot's ability to maintain control after striking the cables allowed for a safe landing outcome.