N849CDCirrus Design SR22 · 2002

On October 16, 2015, about 1940 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N849CD, was destroyed after striking a power line during approach to the Lancaster Regional Airport (LNC), Lancaster, Texas. The pilot was not injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan from the Mid-Way Regional Airport (JWY), Midlothian, Texas about 1850.

The pilot stated he was practicing a 'no flap' visual approach to Runway 31 at LNC and extended his downwind leg to create spacing from an aircraft that was on final approach. As the pilot flew toward Runway 31 on final approach, the airplane struck the upper static line of a set of unlit high voltage power lines, located about one mile prior to the threshold of Runway 31. After feeling a jolt, the passenger deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The airplane continued northwest about 200 feet and impacted a second set of high voltage power lines. The airplane and CAPS became entangled in the second set of power lines and the airplane came to rest suspended by the parachute, with the nose about three feet above the ground. The pilot and passenger exited through the pilot's side door and jumped to the ground. The airplane was subsequently consumed by a post-crash fire.

The pilot's final approach to Runway 31 was over a rural area with low cultural lighting. At the time of the accident, the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) for both runways was inoperative due to maintenance. The PAPI is a visual aid that provides glideslope information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct glide path to a runway. A Notice to Airman (NOTAM) concerning the inoperative PAPI was active, which the pilot stated he was aware of.

The airport manager and Texas Department of Transportation personnel reviewed obstacle clearance information for LNC. The closest tower to the power line struck was 592 feet msl, which was 105 feet above the touchdown zone elevation for Runway 31. This tower and other power lines/obstacles in the vicinity of LNC were below the 34:1 obstacle clearance plane required for a non-precision runway.