Beech 23 N8704M accident near Maryville, Missouri

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines on approach during landing, resulting a power line strike, uncontrolled descent, and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that on final approach to runway 17, he was "distracted" by the runway composition and dimensions. The pilot reported that he identified the high tension power lines just before impact. He recalled that when he saw the power lines he "pulled up" in an attempt to climb, however it was too late, the propeller and engine cowl struck the power lines and the airplane slid down the power line wires toward the ground and came to rest in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the cabin, and the empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations.

The Airport/Facility Directory states the dimensions and composition of the runway, displaced threshold and the high tension power lines as:

The first 630 feet of the runway is gravel and turf, and the width is 60 feet. The next 1300 feet of runway is a 14 foot wide section of concrete with 18 feet of turf on both sides of the concrete. The final 1120 feet of runway is a 12 to 25 foot wide section of gravel and asphalt chips, with 12.5 to17.5 feet of turf on both sides of the gravel and asphalt chips. The displaced threshold is marked with 5 tires on each side of the runway. High tension power line wires are about 1200 feet north of the runway threshold and do not have any safety markings. The power lines that the airplane struck intersect and cross the approach end of runway 17 at approximately 30 degrees. Furthermore, the power lines are depicted on the FAA Aeronautical Chart for the airport.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA357 for the full record.