Incident Overview
A commercial pilot with 16,000 hours of flight time was conducting a routine pipeline patrol at an altitude of 300 feet above ground level. During the flight, the outboard part of the right wing of the airplane came into contact with a tower support wire. The tower was depicted on the sectional chart. After the impact, the pilot assessed the airplane as flyable and decided to return to the departure airport.
Weather Conditions
The pilot reported that the weather conditions were hazy. According to the pilot, by the time he saw the tower, it was too late to take evasive action.
Pilot Actions
Following the contact, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport, having deemed the airplane capable of continued flight. The pilot's total flight experience included 16,000 hours as a commercial pilot.
Additional Information
No further details about the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, occupants, injuries, or damage were provided in the source. The utility tower involved was noted to be depicted on the sectional chart, indicating its presence in the area.