Incident Details
While en route to the Starr County Airport near Rio Grande City, the pilot was navigating south along a road for approximately 25 nautical miles. At an estimated altitude of 1,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL), the left engine propeller impacted guide wires, and the outer portion of the right wing struck a tower. According to the Brownsville sectional chart, the tower, located on the west side of the road, has a height of 1,002 feet MSL (519 feet above ground level).
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he had checked his map to track his position along Highway 755. When he looked up, the tower was directly in front of the aircraft, and it was too late to take evasive action.
Aftermath
Following the collision with the tower, the pilot aborted the approach to Starr County Airport and proceeded to the McCallen Miller International Airport. After manually extending the landing gear, an uneventful landing was made.