On June 5, 1991, a Piper PA38-112 (registration N2549A) operated by Bay Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near South Port, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the electrical transmission lines during the solo instructional flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot on a solo instructional flight collided with the top wires of electrical transmission lines crossing a lake in a designated practice area.
What happened
The aircraft collided with the top wires of electrical transmission lines that crossed over a lake. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was conducting a solo instructional flight. The operation was taking place within a designated practice area located approximately 15 miles north of the departure airport.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the mechanical status of the plane prior to impact. Investigators inspected the flight controls and the engine for any signs of failure or malfunction. The inspection revealed no evidence to indicate that a precrash failure or malfunction occurred.
Findings
The primary finding relates to the point of impact and the operational context. The aircraft struck the overhead wires while the pilot was operating in a designated practice area. The mechanical examination confirmed that the aircraft systems were functioning normally prior to the collision.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the electrical transmission lines during the solo instructional flight.