What happened
On August 9, 2009, a Cessna 180K, registration N71763, was operating in a loose formation behind another aircraft while approaching a private grass airfield near Kinnegad, County Meath. During the approach to runway 20, the aircraft flew too low and struck a pair of 20 KV electricity supply cables. The impact broke the cables and caused minor damage to the aircraft, including a fractured VOR aerial and a missing brake line clip. The pilot was able to climb away and subsequently landed safely at a different airfield.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the landing attempt and the lack of prior authorization. It was established that the airfield owner had previously denied landing requests for the group of aircraft due to noise concerns. On the day of the incident, the owner's son had also refused permission. While a passenger in the aircraft used a mobile phone on speakerphone to contact the owner, the owner maintained that he never granted permission to land and had intended to return the call after landing.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the pilot's briefing and post-incident actions. The pilot had relied on a written flight guide rather than a verbal briefing from the airfield owner, who typically briefs first-time visitors on local hazards like the cables. Additionally, the investigation found that the pilot flew the aircraft for 3.7 hours across the Irish Sea before a licensed engineer performed a formal inspection of the damage.