C172 pilot strikes a power line while flying a low observation flight.

Attributes
ACN	698057
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lug.airport
State Reference	TN
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude cruise : level descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	698057
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

My friend was in the left seat acting as PIC during the takeoff phase of our flight. Upon turning left crosswind I took the controls to become PIC. At no point in the flight did we intend to land on the property. We had his permission to fly low over his property before our flight. We kept a higher airspeed to give us options in the event of an engine failure. We approached the property from the north in a southerly direction at a low approach altitude. As we initiated the missed approach we struck a power line with the right wing. We continued our climb out while checking all instrumentation and looking for visual damage on the aircraft. The flight characteristics were normal and the engine ran smooth. At this point we immediately proceeded to a higher altitude while returning to the airport. Our landing was normal at lug. We returned to the hangar and inspected the aircraft. At this point we found minor damage on the leading edge of the right wing and a few dents on the right flap and right aileron. What I learned is power lines are practically impossible to see in any condition.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT STRIKES A PWR LINE WHILE FLYING A LOW OBSERVATION FLT.

Narrative: MY FRIEND WAS IN THE L SEAT ACTING AS PIC DURING THE TKOF PHASE OF OUR FLT. UPON TURNING L XWIND I TOOK THE CTLS TO BECOME PIC. AT NO POINT IN THE FLT DID WE INTEND TO LAND ON THE PROPERTY. WE HAD HIS PERMISSION TO FLY LOW OVER HIS PROPERTY BEFORE OUR FLT. WE KEPT A HIGHER AIRSPD TO GIVE US OPTIONS IN THE EVENT OF AN ENG FAILURE. WE APCHED THE PROPERTY FROM THE N IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION AT A LOW APCH ALT. AS WE INITIATED THE MISSED APCH WE STRUCK A PWR LINE WITH THE R WING. WE CONTINUED OUR CLB OUT WHILE CHKING ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND LOOKING FOR VISUAL DAMAGE ON THE ACFT. THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS WERE NORMAL AND THE ENG RAN SMOOTH. AT THIS POINT WE IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO A HIGHER ALT WHILE RETURNING TO THE ARPT. OUR LNDG WAS NORMAL AT LUG. WE RETURNED TO THE HANGAR AND INSPECTED THE ACFT. AT THIS POINT WE FOUND MINOR DAMAGE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE R WING AND A FEW DENTS ON THE R FLAP AND R AILERON. WHAT I LEARNED IS PWR LINES ARE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN ANY CONDITION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.