What happened
The pilot and a passenger had planned a short pleasure flight of approximately 40 nautical miles to a neighboring airport for lunch. During the return leg of the journey, the pilot elected to fly at a low altitude over Lake Berryessa. While traversing the lake, the aircraft encountered two transmission wires that spanned the waterway. The collision with these lines caused the aircraft to crash.
Findings
The investigation determined that the transmission lines were located at altitudes of approximately 125 and 135 feet above ground level (AGL). These obstacles were depicted on the relevant sectional aeronautical chart, indicating that the information regarding their presence was available to the pilot prior to flight. The low-altitude flight path over a known obstacle area contributed directly to the accident.
Lake Berryessa
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact with the transmission wires. The specific make and model of the aircraft are not detailed in this excerpt, nor is the registration number provided in the source text. No injury or fatality counts are listed in the available data.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude over an area with known overhead transmission lines, resulting in a collision with those wires.