NTSB Factual Report

On May 1, 2004, at 1050 central daylight time an experimental Sawyer Steen Skybolt, N32DS, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot collided with a guy wire while in low altitude cruise near Philadelphia, Mississippi. This flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. This flight originated from Louisville Winston County Airport, Louisville, Mississippi on May 1, 2004 at 1015.

The pilot had just passed over Philadelphia Municipal Airport and turned left to a heading of 140 degrees, cruising at an altitude of 1600 feet. The pilot stated that at the reduced power setting of 2000 RPM, the airplane had a slightly higher angle of attack than normal cruise. After about 8 minutes on the heading of 140 degrees, the pilot felt a shock on the airframe and heard a loud noise. The airplane turned 30 degrees to the left. The airplane was still flyable so the pilot proceeded to the nearest airport, Barrett Field in Philadelphia, Mississippi and landed without incident.

The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed both left wings were broken off from middle portion of wing, the left wing spar was damaged and the left aileron almost completely detached. The pilot stated that "aircraft with characteristics of tandem seating with Pilot-In-Command in the rear, and forward visibility obscured to any degree above the level flight path should not be flown for long periods on a steady heading. Small course changes, left and right will eliminate the obscured area."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a guy wire which resulted in an in-flight collision.