Investigation number
199001139
Occurrence date
Location
14 km NW of Yarram
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Wirestrike
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
None

The aircraft was spreading superphosphate when it struck a powerline at a height of about 200 feet above ground level. The aircraft struck the line with the main landing gear legs, and although the wire slid up the cutting edges, it was not severed by the cutters but snapped near a pole supporting the span. The wire then slashed around the aircraft until it cleared itself from the airframe after which the pilot discovered that he was only able to turn the aircraft to the left. He carried out an immediate forced landing. The powerline was suspended across a gully via a 470 metre span. The pilot was aware of the line having flown over it on several previous occasions. The pilot stated that, as the line was extremly difficult to see, he had been judging his clearance by reference to the poles at either end of the span. At the time of the strike the pilot's attention was distracted by difficulty in starting the superphosphate running correctly and by concentration on three other sets of wires.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-25
Registration
VH-AHA
Serial number
25-4192
Operation type
Aerial Work
Departure point
11 km NW of Yarram, VIC
Departure time
1100
Destination
11 km NW of Yarram, VIC
Damage
Substantial