Nighttime Aircraft Collision with Overhead Power Lines and Vehicle (N6959J)

Incident Sequence and Impact Location A few minutes after takeoff, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft in the night sky flying between 50 and 100 feet above ground level, westbound, approximately 3 1/2 miles from the airport. The aircraft was next observed in a left descending turn over a freeway, with the engine making loud and unusual noises. It subsequently struck a section of overhead high-tension electrical lines that spanned the freeway. A driver of a northbound vehicle reported that his vehicle collided with the aircraft as it slid across the northbound lanes of traffic. The aircraft came to rest in the northbound emergency lane. At the time of the crash, the only outside illumination was from ground lights in the city. ## Engine Examination Findings Upon initial inspection, it was noted that the engine case was fractured in the area of the No. 4 cylinder. A further examination of the internal components revealed that the No. 4 rod and end cap had separated from the crankshaft. Metallurgical examination of the failed components to determine the failure mode was unsuccessful due to damage sustained on the fracture faces.