On March 7, 1996, a Piper PA-24 (registration N7913P) was involved in an aviation accident near Livingston, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid obstructions (electrical lines), while on final approach to land after encountering icing conditions and diverting to a new destination (alternate airport). This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot on an IFR flight from Wheeling, Illinois to Athens, Georgia encountered severe icing and attempted a precautionary landing at Livingston, Tennessee. On final approach, the airplane struck electrical wires and telephone poles before colliding with the ground.
Incident Details
During an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Wheeling, Illinois, to Athens, Georgia, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions. In response, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing at Livingston, Tennessee. While on final approach to the runway, the airplane struck electrical wires and telephone poles located at the approach end of the runway. Following the wire strike, the airplane collided with the ground.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he did not see the electrical wires and telephone poles during the final approach. He stated that the airplane experienced no mechanical difficulty during the flight prior to the accident.