Event FTW94LA100

Factual narrative

On March 16, 1994, at 1955 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-32- 300, was substantially damaged during an ILS approach at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot/owner and flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. In a written report submitted by the pilot he stated that during the fourth approach, on short final to the Double Eagle airport, the aircraft struck a set of marked power lines containing three wires. He further reported that when the wire strike occurred the CFI applied power in an attempt to clear them. Following the application of power the airplane veered left and struck a second set of power lines. The pilot in command (PIC) stated in his written report that at the time of the accident the CFI was operating the controls of the airplane. The PIC also reported that the airplane was two dots low on the ILS just prior to the collision. An inspection of the scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane struck the wires 200 yards from the approach end of the runway. The inspection revealed that the power lines were marked by orange balls; however, there were no markings applied that could identify the wires at night. DURING A DARK NIGHT ILS APPROACH, BEING FLOWN BY THE CFI RATED PASSENGER, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SET OF POWER LINES 200 YARDS FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THIS WAS THE FOURTH APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22 WHEN THE WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL WIRE CONTACT THE CFI APPLIED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THEM. FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF POWER THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND STRUCK A SECOND SET OF WIRES AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PIC/OWNER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS TWO DOTS LOW ON THE ILS GLIDESLOPE JUST PRIOR TO THE WIRE STRIKE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12