Ringgold, TX, USA
N9374H
Cessna 182R
The 16,000-hour commercial pilot was on a routine pipeline patrol at an altitude of 300 feet above ground level, when the outboard part of the right wing of the airplane came in contact with a tower support wire. After impact the pilot "deemed the plane flyable," and elected to return to the departure airport. The pilot reported that the conditions were hazy and that by the time he saw the tower, it was too late to take evasive actions. The utility tower was depicted on the sectional chart.
On January 22, 2004, approximately 0950 central standard time, a Cessna 182R single-engine airplane, N9374H, was substantially damaged upon impacting a support wire for a tower near Ringgold, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to United Helicopters Incorporated DBA and operated by the Barr Patrol of Mesquite, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Mesquite Metro Airport (HQZ), near Mesquite, Texas, at 0820, and was destined to the Guymon Municipal Airport (GUY), near Guymon, Oklahoma. The 16,000-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was flying on a pipeline patrol 1.5 miles north of Ringgold, Texas, on a heading of 335 degrees. He further reported that the weather was "clear but with a gray haze to the north." With the prevailing weather conditions, the pilot stated that the unlit tower was hard to see, and "by the time I saw it, it was too late to take evasive action." During a telephone interview, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported the airplane was at an altitude of 300 feet agl and shortly after impact with the "support wire," he "deemed the airplane flyable and proceeded to evaluate its maneuverability." He climbed to 2,500 msl and slowed the airplane down to 60 knots and assessed the controllability in a landing configuration. The pilot then elected to return to HQZ. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the outboard 18 inches of the right wing was severed. The pilot stated, "I couldn't see the extent of the wing damage from where I was sitting." The unlit tower was depicted on the sectional chart.
The pilots failure to maintain clearance from the support wire while on a pipeline patrol flight. A contributing factor was the haze restricting the pilots forward visibility, and low altitude flight.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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