Mooney M20J N1079K accident near Lund, Nevada

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to monitor the environment, which led to a collision with power lines during climbout. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power during low-altitude flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, which led to a forced landing that the pilot subsequently aborted when the engine regained full power.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane about 1,000 feet above ground level when the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road; however, the engine regained power before the airplane landed. As the airplane began to climb out, it collided with power lines. The pilot chose to continue the flight and landed at an airport 150 miles south of the accident site where it was discovered that the airplane sustained substantial damage due to the power line strike. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the engine power loss could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13LA407 for the full record.