Accident Overview
An experimental-exhibition airplane was destroyed during a daytime VFR cross-country flight when it struck a tower guy wire and subsequently impacted the ground. The accident occurred while the airplane was in cruise flight.
Collision Details
Physical evidence indicated that the left wing's leading edge and spar made contact with the third guy wire, which was 7/16 inch in diameter, located approximately 20 feet laterally from the northwest side of the tower. The point of contact was at an altitude of 273 feet above ground level. A section of the left wing’s outboard leading edge skin was found near the tower's base.
Weather and Visibility
Visibility was 10 statute miles below an overcast ceiling at 3,300 feet.
Tower Information
The tower's lights were operational at the time of the accident. The tower was not depicted on the Dallas-Fort Worth Sectional Aeronautical Chart (65th edition, effective October 5, 2000) found in the aircraft wreckage. That sectional had an aeronautical information cut-off date of August 10, 2000. The tower corporation filed FAA Form 7460-2, indicating that the tower structure reached its greatest height on September 12, 2000. The FAA's Aeronautical Chart Division received the form on September 25, 2000, and the tower was entered into the Digital Obstacle File on October 2, 2000. The tower's latitude/longitude and obstruction height were published in the Airport/Facility Directory/Aeronautical Chart Bulletin effective November 30, 2000 to January 25, 2001.
Aircraft Condition
No anomalies were found that would have contributed to a loss of engine power or flight control prior to impact with the tower cable.