PVT PLT OF A CESSNA 172 COLLIDED WITH A CABLE CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACFT CTL AND A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION DURING THE FLT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN BELOW THE MSA OVER A CITY (DEN) AND A TOWN; OR SETTLEMENT; CASTLE ROCK.

Narrative

AT THE N SHORE OF CHERRY CREEK; I TURNED W AND FLEW OVER DENVER. I THEN TURNED S AND FLEW OVER CASTLE ROCK; CO. I FLEW AROUND TOWN FOR A WHILE AND TURNED E. I HEADED E FOR MY FATHER'S FARM IN EASTERN CO. I WAS APPROX 15 MI E OF CASTLE ROCK WHEN I HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' AND A FEW PIECES OF THE WINDSCREEN FLEW AT ME. I THEN FELT THE PLANE BECOME LESS STABLE. I THEN STARTED TO DSND FROM APPROX 800 FT AGL TO LAND IN A PASTURE. AT APPROX 100 FT AGL; THE TAIL BEGAN TO 'PULL' DOWN AS IF SOMETHING WERE DRAGGING IT DOWN. I THEN GLANCED AT THE TAIL; AND SAW A CABLE OF SOME SORT CAUGHT ON THE TAIL. THE 'DRAGGING' SENSATION FROM THE TAIL LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS; AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED. THE PLANE THEN FLEW NORMAL WITH NO VIBRATIONS AND NOTHING ABNORMAL. SINCE I HAD COMPLETE CTL OF THE PLANE; I TURNED AROUND AND FLEW BACK TO CENTENNIAL. I BELIEVE THE AIRBORNE CABLE CAME FROM A WX BALLOON THAT CAME UNTETHERED; OR POSSIBLY A TOW CABLE FROM A GLIDER DUE TO THE CLOSE PROX OF THE GLIDER PORT TO WHICH I WAS FLYING.