Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-200 N63BW accident near Irwin, Idaho

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low level flight, which resulted in the airplane striking a wire, impacting water, and nosing over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that during a low level flight, the airplane struck a wire over a river. The landing gear contacted the wire, the wire stretched like a "bungee cord," and then the wire broke. The airplane pulled to the right with the wire still attached, the pilot landed in the river, and the airplane nosed over. The recovery of the airplane from the river revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that, "I could have prevented this accident by better observation of power lines over the river."

The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA255 for the full record.