Accident Overview
A Cessna 182Q aircraft collided with an unmarked cable suspended 50 feet above the Colorado River. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying below the level of the cable, rocking its wings toward boaters and sunbathers. One witness stated, "The aircraft buzzed us, so low, I actually ducked, thinking he would hit us." The aircraft then initiated a climb, during which it struck the cable.
Cable Description
The cable is part of a gage station used to measure the height of the Colorado River. It spans 548.8 feet between the river banks and has a diameter of 1 1/8 inches. The cable is constructed with 37 galvanized plow steel strands. The crossing is not marked on the Phoenix sectional chart, but it lies within the boundaries of a National Park Service area.
Regulatory Context
Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface of these National Park Service areas. Additionally, Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.79 restricts the operation of an aircraft to no closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.