Final Report; 2016 RV-4 fatal accident

[Northernliving]

Originally Posted by Schooner69

NEVER low fly in an area you have not previously recce'd. Even that caution is useless unless you can guarantee that nothing has been erected/strung since your recce...

I know of three people killed and two aircraft destroyed after encountering a wire because of spur-of-the-moment low flying.

I can add a close friend to that list killed by power lines; in a known/familiar area. Walker was a 13k US Navy trained Delta captain. No one is immune. Fly smart and safe.

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.a...24X32128&key=1

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2016/0...h-24-2016.html

[gmcjetpilot]

This makes me sad.... Flying low can be fun. From personal experience I only do it when I know the area, typically right over the runway, ie, low pass. It still has risks. Hitting a bird at 200 mph, will cause major damage to plane and you, if it comes through windscreen (and it will). Good face/eye protection (ie helmet) is not a bad idea. Of course birds come at all altitudes, but it's more likely at lower altitudes.

I remember a Piper Arrow at an FBO I rented, was being flown by another pilot. He lost one eye from impact with bird in cruise flight about 1000 ft AGL. Wires are bad and you can hit them even when not flying low. Some radio/TV towers are 1000-2000 feet AGL. Flying into the sun, hitting a tower or guy wire has happened..