Accident Overview
A private pilot was conducting an aerobatic flight with a passenger when the airplane struck power lines over a river and subsequently impacted the water. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported giving three people free rides prior to the accident flight. The passenger on the accident flight had requested an aerobatic flight. Both occupants were wearing parachutes.
The pilot departed the airport to the west, climbed to 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL), and performed aerobatic maneuvers. After completing the maneuvers, he flew to the south, then proceeded north over the river back toward the airport.
Wire Strike and Impact
The pilot reported flying approximately 40 to 50 feet above the river when the airplane struck power lines just as he was about to initiate a climb. The main landing gear contacted the wires, and the airplane landed inverted in the river in about 3 to 4 feet of water.
Pilot’s Navigation Error
The pilot stated that he had flown over the river going south from the airport "many times." However, at the time of the accident, he was not where he thought he was. He believed he was 4 miles south of his actual location.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction prior to the accident.