Incident Overview
While maneuvering at a low altitude near the destination airport, the airplane struck power lines. The pilot maintained control of the aircraft, continued the flight, and landed without further incident.
Pilot Background
The pilot, a non-instrument rated private pilot, had recently returned to flying after a hiatus of several years. In the 90 days preceding the event, he had accumulated approximately 20 hours of flight time in the accident aircraft.
Weather Conditions
According to the pilot, instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with low clouds, thunderstorms, and rain showers developed while he was en route. He stated that he was forced to descend to a lower altitude as a result. However, weather reports for the area at the time of the flight indicated clear skies and visibility greater than 10 miles.