Accident Overview
An aircraft experienced an in-flight collision with unmarked telephone wires while flying at low altitude over a river. The pilot subsequently executed an off-airport landing on a cow pasture. During the landing, the aircraft contacted the ground nose-first.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, during low-level flight over a river, the aircraft struck unmarked telephone wires. The pilot reported a loss of engine power following the wire strike. An emergency landing was performed on a cow pasture, where the aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed telephone wire insulation wedged near the bottom of the carburetor air cleaner. The telephone wire had fractured the carburetor casting that secures the carburetor to the intake pipes. Investigators noted that the observed damage would result in a loss of engine power.
Pilot's Statement
The pilot did not provide an explanation for flying at low altitude. He voluntarily surrendered his pilot certificate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and acknowledged violating Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). As a preventative measure, the pilot recommended avoiding low-level flight.