NTSB Factual Report

The 80 year old pilot usually flew with his son and not by himself. On the day of the accident, he intended to fly solo around a lake and then return to the private landing strip to pick up his son for an additional flight together. The pilot took off from the landing strip and flew over some property that he used to own. The pilot stated that he blacked and did not recall the accident. The last thing he remembered was turning back to the lake. He then heard voices and people were helping him into a boat. According to a witness, she observed the airplane flying south over the lake behind her house and then strike a powerline that extended from the lake bank near the rear of her house, across the water to the island. After striking the powerline, the airplane "nosedived" into the lake. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line.