Accident Details
The airplane was owned by the student pilot, who had accumulated approximately 26 hours of total flight experience, including 24 hours in the accident airplane. He departed on a local flight with a private pilot who had about 605 hours of total flight experience, including about 450 hours in make and model.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot flew the majority of the flight and was manipulating the controls during the accident. He entered the traffic pattern for landing on a 2,750-foot long turf runway. According to the private pilot, the student pilot's first landing approach was 'way too high' and resulted in a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the airplane 'seemed right on glide slope' when it 'suddenly dropped down' and impacted power lines.
The private pilot stated he attempted to reach for the controls and apply engine power but was too late. The airplane struck the top of a utility pole and power lines, located about 250 feet prior to and in-line with the approach end of the runway. The utility pole was about 40 feet tall, and the wires were marked with 'orange balls.'
Aftermath
The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted on crops, about 140 feet from the approach end of the runway.
Pilot Background
The student pilot had not accumulated any 'solo' flight experience. His flight instructor stated she considered him a good pilot; however, she had not signed him off for solo flight because of his performance during landing attempts. They had been working on takeoffs and landings for about 6 hours, and she found the student pilot became 'very tense and real nervous' during landings. The private pilot further stated he had known the student pilot for about 30 years and was aware that the student pilot had been receiving flight instruction in the accident airplane.