Wirestrike involving Rockwell S2R, VH-DQI, Tawarri' 10 km south-east of Deniliquin, New South Wales, on 25 October 1990

Circumstances:

The pilot was operating from an agricultural airstrip which was aligned north-south. A powerline, approximately 6 m above ground level and located 220 m from the northern threshold, crossed the approach path at an angle of 60 degrees. The pilot elected to take off into the light northerly breeze, flying under the powerline, and to approach over the wires, landing into the south. He determined his descent point by sighting along the run of the power poles, the nearest of which was partially obscured by trees. During his third approach to land, the pilot had forgotten the powerline until sighting it as it was about to pass under the aircraft nose. He applied full throttle and raised the aircraft nose too late to prevent the main landing gear from contacting the powerline. The aircraft impacted the ground in a near-level attitude, 108 m from the point of contact with the powerline and travelled a further 29 m before coming to rest. Both cables of the powerline were dislodged from 9 poles, 1 of which was broken. One cable was broken but remained caught in the left main landing gear. The pilot vacated the aircraft as a fire quickly spread from the engine area to the wings and fuselage.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident.

1. The pilot did not adopt an appropriate procedure for avoiding the powerline.

2. The pilot forgot the presence of the powerline. 3. The pilot saw the wires too late to avoid colliding with them.