On 25 May 2015, a PIPER PA 25-260 260 operated by William R. Dittmer was involved in an aviation accident near Casselton, ND. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported becoming distracted and looking down, then looking up to see power transmission wires. The aircraft struck the wires at about 73 feet above ground, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage.
Accident Description
According to an interview with an Aviation Safety Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated that he was heading back to the airport when he became distracted. He looked down at the floor and then looked up just in time to see the wire. The airplane subsequently struck power transmission line wires at approximately 73 feet above ground level.
Impact and Damage
The left wing impacted the ground about 290 feet from the power transmission line wires in the direction of travel. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Contributing factors
PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintainedAwareness of condition