Cessna 172M N9160H accident near Brookwood, Alabama

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude.

NTSB analysis

Witnesses reported the airplane was flying low over a river with the engine operating at a high rpm when it collided with a set of powerlines about 60-80 ft above the ground. The airplane descended into the river and sank, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane and fatal injury to the pilot.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Although an autopsy of the pilot revealed hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, given the airplane’s low and level flight before the collision a cardiac event was unlikely to have contributed to the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA114 for the full record.