AVIAT A1, N29712: Accident occurred December 13, 2015 in Broadus, Powder River County, Montana

http://registry.faa.gov/N29712

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Helena FSDO-05

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA080
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, December 13, 2015 in Broadus, MT
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/05/2016
Aircraft: AVIAT A1, registration: N29712
Injuries: 1 Minor.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot, while flying at low altitude and following the course of a river, he did not see the telephone wires that spanned the width of the river. He recalled that while following the river's path, the airplane struck the wires, the airspeed decreased, and the wires "broke". He reported that during the moments while the airplane was in contact with the wires, the airspeed bled off to below stall airspeed, descended, and impacted the ground east of the river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, horizontal stabilizer and elevator. 

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires while flying at a low altitude resulting in a wire strike, a loss of airplane control, and the consequent impact with terrain.