Piper PA 28 N7085R accident near Corona, California

Probable cause

The student pilot and flight instructor’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during a simulated emergency landing, which resulted in a wire strike during a go-around.

NTSB analysis

According to the flight instructor, during an off-airport simulated engine failure with a 180° turn, he called for a go-around upon completion of the maneuver. The student initiated the go-around, but the airplane struck power line wires. The flight instructor landed the airplane in a field, and the nose landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts.

The flight instructor reported that this accident could have been prevented by performing a ground reconnaissance of unfamiliar practice areas to assess for hazards to flight. The flight instructor will also initiate simulated engine failures at a higher altitude to enable recovery at no less than 500ft above ground level.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA102 for the full record.