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 read an NTSB accident report of RV flying low over river. It hit a ZIP line across the river (uncharted). The pilot was killed. I have flow low along rivers before. It is fun and you think you are safe... 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..

Piper Arrow at an FBO I rented from decades ago, being flown by another pilot, lost an eye from impact with bird in cruise flight about 1000 ft AGL.