Reporter concern reference markings (or lack of them) of power lines crossing a river.

Attributes
ACN	242554
Time
Date	199305
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hbu
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 31 flight time total : 15177 flight time type : 422
ASRS Report	242554
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Conducting mountain flying training/photography flight for magazine article. Flying from blue mesa reservoir to black canyon of the gunnison along the gunnison river, noticed unmarked high-tension power lines crossing the river at the east entrance of the canyon. There are no 'balls' marking these lines. The sectional chart (denver) indicates power lines in the area, however, there is insufficient detail to show the lines crossing the river. Recommendations: add sectional chart warning: 'caution -- power lines cross gunnison river in vicinity of canyon.' install marker balls on the power lines. Note: the power lines are very difficult to see! I noticed the tower structures (only because I was looking for them). Did not see the wires until crossing them and seeing the sun reflected off them. The lines did not pose a hazard to this flight, but some pilots flying in an unpopulated area may transition this area at low altitude and impact the lines.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CONCERN REF MARKINGS (OR LACK OF THEM) OF PWR LINES XING A RIVER.

Narrative: CONDUCTING MOUNTAIN FLYING TRAINING/PHOTOGRAPHY FLT FOR MAGAZINE ARTICLE. FLYING FROM BLUE MESA RESERVOIR TO BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON ALONG THE GUNNISON RIVER, NOTICED UNMARKED HIGH-TENSION PWR LINES XING THE RIVER AT THE E ENTRANCE OF THE CANYON. THERE ARE NO 'BALLS' MARKING THESE LINES. THE SECTIONAL CHART (DENVER) INDICATES PWR LINES IN THE AREA, HOWEVER, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT DETAIL TO SHOW THE LINES XING THE RIVER. RECOMMENDATIONS: ADD SECTIONAL CHART WARNING: 'CAUTION -- PWR LINES CROSS GUNNISON RIVER IN VICINITY OF CANYON.' INSTALL MARKER BALLS ON THE PWR LINES. NOTE: THE PWR LINES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE! I NOTICED THE TWR STRUCTURES (ONLY BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR THEM). DID NOT SEE THE WIRES UNTIL XING THEM AND SEEING THE SUN REFLECTED OFF THEM. THE LINES DID NOT POSE A HAZARD TO THIS FLT, BUT SOME PLTS FLYING IN AN UNPOPULATED AREA MAY TRANSITION THIS AREA AT LOW ALT AND IMPACT THE LINES.

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.