Pilot flying low over river hits cable.

Attributes
ACN	185852
Time
Date	199108
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eed airport : p06
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	185852
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying from laughlin to havasu we decided to fly close to the river for about 5 mi looking for wires, towers, poles etc. Saw none then decided to fly over the river at about 100 ft above the water. 30 seconds later we hit some sort of cable. I never saw it coming. It took off my nose wheel and left main gear. I had to make a 1 wheel landing 3 hours (to use up fuel) later. I will never fly low again, ever. Even if it's out in the desert. I wish the cable would have been marked with large red balls.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FLYING LOW OVER RIVER HITS CABLE.

Narrative: FLYING FROM LAUGHLIN TO HAVASU WE DECIDED TO FLY CLOSE TO THE RIVER FOR ABOUT 5 MI LOOKING FOR WIRES, TWRS, POLES ETC. SAW NONE THEN DECIDED TO FLY OVER THE RIVER AT ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER. 30 SECONDS LATER WE HIT SOME SORT OF CABLE. I NEVER SAW IT COMING. IT TOOK OFF MY NOSE WHEEL AND L MAIN GEAR. I HAD TO MAKE A 1 WHEEL LNDG 3 HRS (TO USE UP FUEL) LATER. I WILL NEVER FLY LOW AGAIN, EVER. EVEN IF IT'S OUT IN THE DESERT. I WISH THE CABLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MARKED WITH LARGE RED BALLS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.