Incident Overview
During a local sightseeing flight, the pilot heard a loud 'pow' and realized the airplane had collided with a power line strung across a river. The pilot stated that after the collision, the airplane 'pulled to the right,' but control was maintained.
Post-Collision Actions
The pilot returned to the airport and successfully landed the airplane after two attempts. An inspection revealed that the top third of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder had separated from the airplane as a result of the impact.
Power Line Details
The power line that was struck was reported to be approximately 40 feet above the surface of the water. The pilot reported not realizing he was flying so low to the water.
Reporting
The accident was reported to the FAA by anonymous sources; the pilot had made no attempt to report the accident.