NTSB Factual Report

On September 15, 2013, about 0815 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N1079K, sustained substantial damage when it collided with power lines 15 miles south of Lund, Nevada. The airplane was registered to Smith Plane LLC, and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Ely Airport, Ely, Nevada, at 0730 and had a destination of North Las Vegas Airport(VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada.

The pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the purpose of the flight was to monitor a race course at the Silver State Classic Challenge Road Race. When he was about 1,000 feet above ground level the engine experienced a loss of power. While attempting to make an emergency landing, the engine regained power; shortly thereafter the airplane collided with power lines. The power lines subsequently separated from the airplane and the pilot continued his climbout. The pilot reported that he decided to depart the area and fly south to VGT, which was about 150 miles south, rather than fly over the mountains near Ely, Nevada.

One of the passengers reported in a written statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that as he was looking out of the window the pilot was manipulating the controls. The pilot stated that he was going to land on a road as he pulled and then pushed the throttle lever back in. After colliding with the wires, the passenger stated that all of the alarms were going off. The passenger further stated that the cylinder head temperature was high, and that he pointed this to the pilot.

The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane had impact marks and damage on both wings, cowling and propeller assembly. The left wing tip fairing section was bent rearward and the left aileron was ripped from the trailing edge to its leading edge. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to monitor the environment, which led to a collision with power lines during climbout. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power during low-altitude flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, which led to a forced landing that the pilot subsequently aborted when the engine regained full power.