Incident Overview
A pilot and his passengers departed Bakersfield, California, for an evening flight to Santa Barbara for dinner. En route, the pilot decided to fly over three of his citrus ranches to inspect them from the air. While flying at an altitude he later described as too low, and at a speed he stated was "250 plus mph," the aircraft clipped a 12,000-volt PG&E power line.
Immediate Actions
According to the pilot, he immediately pulled the aircraft up to 1,500 feet and checked all systems. He then flew approximately 30 miles back to Bakersfield and made an uneventful landing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage.
Aircraft Damage
The post-flight inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage, though specific details of the damage were not provided in the source.