Incident Details
A pilot reported that while preparing to land on a runway, he made an effort to identify any powerlines on the approach end. During the base leg and final approach, he did not see any wires. However, while on short final, the pilot became aware of wires and applied back pressure to avoid a collision. The airplane struck the wires and subsequently descended in an uncontrolled manner onto the clearway area preceding the runway threshold.
On-Scene Investigation
An investigation at the scene revealed that the wires were 30 feet high and located approximately 300 feet from the runway threshold. The poles and wires were not marked with hazard markings. Additionally, the coloration of the wires blended into the terrain that the pilot would see as he approached the runway.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that he attempted to visually identify powerlines during the approach. Despite his efforts, he did not see the wires until very close to landing. After noticing the wires, he pulled back on the controls, but the airplane still struck the wires, leading to an uncontrolled descent onto the clearway.