On September 5, 1990, a Boeing B75N1 (registration N62438) was involved in an aviation accident near Marseilles, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A WIRE WHILE CONDUCTING INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft conducting intentional low-level flight struck a wire, which became attached to the aircraft, causing it to descend into a river. The pilot sustained serious injuries; the passenger reported minor injuries.
Incident Overview
An aircraft involved in an intentional low-level flight operation struck a wire during the maneuver. The wire became entangled with the aircraft, which subsequently descended into a river. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Injuries and Pilot Recall
The pilot sustained serious injuries in the accident. The passenger reported minor injuries. According to the report, the pilot does not recall details of the flight. The passenger stated he was reading a chart at the time of the collision and did not see the wire.
Context and Sequence
The flight was being conducted at a low altitude intentionally when the wire strike occurred. With the wire attached to the aircraft, it lost altitude and ended up in the river. No further information about the aircraft type, registration, or environmental conditions was provided in the source material.