Accident
On January 12, 2025, at about 1415 central standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered as N8569V, was involved in an accident near Batesville, Arkansas. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness pilot flying about 1/4 mile behind and at a higher altitude, the accident airplane was flying low in a valley before colliding with high-tension power lines. A blue arc flash was observed from the lines. The accident airplane then came to rest hanging suspended above the ground from a power line, nose-down, with both wings displaced and entangled, and the outboard section of the left wing separated. The witness pilot and his passenger notified 911 by phone while overflying the site, then landed at Batesville Regional Airport and proceeded to the accident scene.
Rescue
At the scene, while the accident pilot was still inside the suspended airplane, he stated that he did not see the power lines until it was too late because of a snowy backdrop. The pilot survived the initial collision but sustained fatal injuries after egressing the suspended airplane using a harness and rope provided by people on the ground. The aircraft was suspended about 130 feet off the ground.
Investigation
Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after its removal from the power line revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. The location of the power lines was depicted on the current sectional aeronautical chart for the area. A witness pilot stated that he had just commented to his passenger about the low altitude of the accident airplane before the collision, and neither he nor his passenger observed any signs of distress.
Toxicology
Toxicological testing by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory detected doxylamine, temazepam, and trazodone in the pilot's blood; specific concentration levels were not provided. Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine; the FAA advises pilots not to fly within 60 hours of its use. Temazepam is a prescription benzodiazepine; the FAA recommends a 72-hour waiting period. Trazodone is a prescription antidepressant that the FAA designates as a Do Not Issue/Do Not Fly medication, with waiting periods of at least 48 hours (if used as a sedative) or discontinuation for 60 days (if used for depression) before a special issuance may be considered. The medications carry warnings about drowsiness and impaired motor skills.