Wire Strike Cessna 310

On the 7th Of November 2022 whilst landing at CML8, I struck an unmarked power wire 500 feet from the displaced threshold of runway 31!
In this video I look at what happened, the damage to the aircraft and the frustration at nearly killing myself and passengers due to negligence and lies to keep an airport open and a flight school operating.
A year later and the information in the CFS is still not accurate for this airport!

[@kmg501]

I'll never understand how things like this are allowed to stand. That's absolutely a lethal hazard that should have not existed, and for there to be a school there that wasn't kicking up a fuss is mind boggling.

[@maxtanicgaming]

The fact they didn't have the wire buried nor have at the very least an aerial marker ball is criminal. Good to hear it's buried now and you guys are ok but that's as close as it gets. We flew a 1955 C310 and P model for over 25 years, LOVE the 310's. Keep the 310 vids coming

[@m118lr]

Glad you guys are alright..AND yes, THEY SHOULD BE responsible for the damage to your plane. It BLOWS MY MIND..that anybody thought this was proper airport/RUNWAY ‘construction’ and that it WASN’T a literal “accident WAITING TO HAPPEN”.

[@davidpowell7614]

It actually takes more than an accident to get things improved. Transport Canada were initially uninterested in the problem despite raising a report and contacting, well, contacts! It took a telephone call to the TSB to set a fire going. After that the Montreal TSB and TC staff went at it and got the wire taken down. I was so incensed that a wire would escape all means of being identified in what was clearly the flight path that I kept pressing for action.

[@towgod7985]

Sounds about right for Transport Canada. In 2005? at a large glider club in southern Ontario, the then club president (A.G.) in a temper tantrum parked his car and glider trailer ON THE ACTIVE RUNWAY while flight operations were underway, this was witnessed by several members and reported to Transport Canada. T.C. PROMPTLY brushed IT off with NO CRIMINAL CHARGES. At the same time, T.C. was on a runway incursion reporting blitz! They are happy to take the paycheck but actually doing anything is inconvenient.

[@RalphEllis]

Why no balls on the wire? In Europe, all wires near airports must have visibility balls. R

[@EyebrowsMahoney]

​@RalphEllis here in the US, all overhead wires near an airport are marked with high visibility orange spheres as well. Regardless of whether they pose any risk to departing or approaching traffic. One airport I visited had a high tension wire with the orange spheres almost a mile and a half away from a heliport, and that was parallel by about a half mile to the approach pattern. The lines were just barely above the trees so any possible aircraft would be flying dangerously low to even consider it a hazard... This is simply egregious!

[@davidpowell7614]

They should also be on wires in Canada. Our local airport CYPQ, has them on wires near the runways. The situation we literally ran in to was an airport with incorrect reporting and procedures in addition to incorrectly mounted wires.@@RalphEllis

[@davidpowell7614]

It certainly was!@@EyebrowsMahoney

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

I think they are liable for your damage. That was not a marked or approved obstruction.

[@jmflyer55]

They’re not at all liable for his damage. He was in error. He was skirting in low, against proper procedures. The runway has a significantly displaced threshold. He glide path is supposed to be appropriate 3 degrees or so, to set his wheels down PAST that displaces threshold. It’s there to keep aircraft high on approach. He ignored that, and came in low skirting the ground to try to touch down early, because he was intimidated by the shortness of the runway. It’s clearly a pilot error. Not the airports error. That’s why they displaced the threshold. I’m not bashing the guy, I’ve been flying 40 years and I’ve made mistakes. But let’s not sugar coat it either. Had he been even 6 feet lower than he was, he would have killed everyone onboard. Pilots are supposed to understand what they’re doing. It doesn’t matter if it was written in the airport paper diagram. Busting normal approach minimums even when VFR is never a wise decision. Let’s hope he learned a lesson, because it seems he’s making a lot of excuses up for it. Like, it doesn’t matter there was a student pilot and 2 other private pilots with him at the time. HE was PIC, it was his responsibility alone. Airports are not haphazardly thrown together. Displaced thresholds are there for very important reasons. As pilots were supposed to understand that. Glad they’re all okay, they were INCREDIBLY lucky!!

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

Ok, I see your point but still think that putting the wires across the approach end like that is asking for a accident. At minimum mark the wires. My Dad was a charter pilot in the western Canadian arctic and for a time in the early '70's was based out of Ft. Franklin NWT, the CBC installed a 300 foot tower to the side of the runway, Dad told em, that's asking for trouble. 10 years later in bad weather a Twin Otter struck the tower killing a number of people, yes it was the pilot's fault but this tower created a flight risk, eventually killing a number of people. @@jmflyer55

[@tm502010]

@@jmflyer55Disagree. The official numbers are recorded as X, but it’s really much less. The wire should have been buried from day one!

[@relevantinformation6655]

@@jmflyer55-good analysis. We struck a wire flying through an old ghost town in a Longranger 🚁 equipped with a full wire kit on it back in the 80’s. Mining areas are not exactly the safest place for a photo mission. Had we not had the cutters, not sure we would have made it. Another time on a search and rescue, ELT had us close but couldn’t find it, then we saw the plane had wrapped itself around very heavy duty high power lines like tinfoil. Since helicopters are usually at 300 AGL in suburban settings, everyone has their own wire and tower stories. 😬 -stay safe !

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

@@jmflyer55 Clearly pilot error? The fact that they've now buried the wire suggests that the management perceived a duty of care. If they aren't liable, why spend the money to _now_ bury the wire? Do authorities shut down operations when the facility is _clearly_ compliant? Your haughty certitude is troubling - almost as if you've assumed a comically cruel persona to scare off dissent. Yeah, our pilot seems to have deviated from perfection. That shouldn't be a capital offense, your extreme confidence notwithstanding.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

It boggles the mind. The power company likely broke all sorts of rules when they put the line in place. Even if no rules were broken common sense should have kicked in. You can’t put an obstruction in the landing pattern. Then the managers at the airport should have been raising Cain with the power company and reporting the situation to the local and national authorities. Pilots based at the field should have been raising Cain with the airport managers and the local government agencies.

[@fastbackflying853]

I think you might be right about the power company breaking a lot of rules and just stringing a wire to get power where they wanted it. The fact that they restrung the wire within a few hours of it being broken speaks to this. Do believe the airport had paid to have the wire broken but had not pushed hard enough to actually make it happen and ultimately according to TC had lied about it actually being removed.

[@Orzorn]

@@fastbackflying853 Its amazing that the power company wouldn't even put a few of those orange balls on there for visibility. Those things save lives!

[@homomorphic]

How can they not have a ball on a wire that crosses a runway approach?

[@fastbackflying853]

They are in the obstacle clearance area for the runway. Transport Canada would not even allow them to be marked and stay there they had to be buried. The fact that there wasn't even balls on them is totally crazy.

[@EyebrowsMahoney]

This is massively egregious! I'm glad you made it out OK! This is why my instructor (an old long time pilot turn CFI) made it a point to circle me around the airport and ask me what I saw. My first time around, I didnt notice power lines (as they normally wouldnt have been an obstruction) and he pointed it out: "It might be marked, it might not be marked. At the end of the day "I didn't see it" won't bring you back." He made it a point for us to fly around a proposed airport and look for hazards and obstacles that we might not have expected in the Pilot Brief. I have a feeling he saw (or experienced!) the same thing you experienced a few times in his years and didn't want any of his students to experience the same. I want to make it clear, I'm not making any slight against you at all, just expanding on that while what the airport, TC, and TSB was near criminally negligent, we do carry a responsibility to ourselves and pax to be especially cautious and careful landing in unfamiliar airports. Your story will help many others keep a sharper eye when on approach. Thank you for sharing!

[@jeffreylefebvre3113]

What a story! Sorry this happened to you but so glad you’re such a competent and thoughtful pilot… thank you for posting and glad you have been able to put this behind you and press on to your future adventures!!

[@fastbackflying853]

Thank you for your comment. It definitely shook me up for a while and I was very upset at having hurt the airplane. I do think I'm very lucky I was not in a smaller aircraft. Lots more adventures to come

[@floydflys72f]

Being as I was a high voltage lineman for over 30 years, Wires have always scared me because I know the strength that they can carry. I use google earth and foreflight to look these rural airports over before the flight and I usually orbit the area with one pass looking for things just like you encountered. I am glad it did not flip your aircraft or rip the wing off which it could have easily. Fly Safe My Friend

[@billbrisson]

google maps and earth are great! I use them whenever I'm going to a new airport or strip! the biggest problem (in Canada at least) is the imagery is so out of date, years if not decades old

[@ABQSentinel]

What?! You did a low pass over the runway? Well... good thing it was in Canada and not the US or the FAA would have had your certificate!

[@fastbackflying853]

No kidding. If the information in the flight supplement was accurate I would never have gone there in the 310!

[@ricknash3055]

That was a strike that should have never happened. Criminal negligence by whomever was responsible to permit that wire over the runway including the power company who strung it back up. Flat lighting conditions will make wires visibly disappear. Do hope you pursued a legal remedy for your expenses if no compensation was offered. So close to being your final final.

[@billbrisson]

The worst part of this tale is it brings doubt to all the published information in the CFS! this could have ended so much worse! thanks for sharing. I remember something I was told when I started flying. "Learn from other's mistakes, because you won't live long enough to make them all yourself!" Thank you for posting this!

[@fastbackflying853]

I agree 100%. Thank you for your comment

[@williamrobin2638]

It's my understanding that it is the responsibility of the airport to assure that any information in the CFS is up to date and accurate. If anything changes, it is the airport management's responsibility to see that the new situation is indicated when the next CFS is issued. @@fastbackflying853

[@davidpowell7614]

Well, gone are the days of lugging a paperback CFS in the aeroplane! Now it’s digital or use a pilot app to get the info. I think the reality is that for small airfields there is a good chance the info may not be 100%. A call to the field operator should deal with most things…..you would hope!

[@billbrisson]

@@davidpowell7614 lol Yup... no more 5lbs of paperback in the plane :) Foreflight is a wonderful thing, but only as good as the data that gets entered. Calling the operator is a great idea.

[@johndurant622]

Every approach you show in this video is long and very low. You are flying about a 1 degree glide path, instead of a std 3 degree. With 45 years of experience, your video is uncomfortable to watch.

[@fastbackflying853]

I did have a more shallow approach into this airport due to lenght and wind conditions. I am at 100 to 140ft AGL 1000ft back from the threshold and over the position of the noted wires at 30AGL. Dont forget camera lenses can distort the view point.

[@fastbackflying853]

Also of note. If you fly a 3 degree approach to this runway you would hit the wire that I hit!

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

Both negligence and a willful disregard for the safety, is what that airport management are guilty of. Did your insurance go after them for the damages? Are you going to seek compensation for the damages? Cheers from Winnipeg.

[@fastbackflying853]

Insurance did not go after them as the amount was too small to justify the expense!

[@fastbackflying853]

Also lots of people have been asking why no balls marking the wires. The simple reason is that the wires are too close to even be allowed to remain with balls on them. The electrical company also charges airports or individuals for installing the balls. This was why flying operations were not meant to continue until the wire had been removed. A number of local runways and private strips have had issues with the electrical companies replacing electrical poles with much large ones increase heights of wires to as much as 80 AGL. I know a number of individuals who have struggled with this occurring off the end of their runway but its always been dealt with. In this case power was running to the hangars down the access road. I believe that it was strung across the runway by the electrical company to another property with no regard for aviation safety. The airport was stuck trying to get it removed but also not wanting to have their operations stopped until that had occurred.

[@fastbackflying853]

The response and comments to this video have been stunning! Thank you for all the support. I am sorry I wont be able to respond to everyone but I have read all of your comments.

[@johndale7760]

An important story of your experience, and well told. Your skills (and some good luck e.g being in the 310) certainly saved a dreadful accident. But I'm curious. Repairs must have been a substantial cost. Did you file for compensation for the error and negligence? If so, which organization, and were there any consequences for the people who messed up? Fly safely.

[@cashflyer]

One of the most common sizes for a wooden pole of that type is a 35 class 5 - which requires a buried depth of 5.5ft, leaving 29.5 ft above ground obstacle. At 500 ft from the threshold, that wire protrudes well into a typical 3 degree approach angle.

[@fastbackflying853]

Thanks for the information and backup on the calculations

[@jean-micheldupont1150]

When they restrung the wire, they could at least have put some wire markers... As they should have done from day1

[@fastbackflying853]

I agree. It was very obvious what had happened.

[@georgechoquette5735]

Thank you for this report. I'm from there and now live in Texas. The government controlled utility, hydro Quebec is appalling in their lack of response, and accident prevention mentality.

[@tm502010]

Wow! The entitlement of the power company is surreal! The lawsuit from a crashed plane and death would be ghastly!

[@kombolasha]

Compelling production and nicely edited too. I’m ashamed to admit that, in comparison, my preflight prep could use a lot of improvement, so I’m taking notes here. I have no doubt this video save lives in the future. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@fastbackflying853]

Thank you for your kind words. You should never stop learning and its good to remember just how easy it can all go wrong.

[@CraigBowcutt]

Wow, well done for saving the crew and the plane.

[@fastbackflying853]

Thank you kindly

[@keeganyost8123]

As a beginner piolet I can understand how much pride as a piolet you probably take in your calculations and performance. Thanks for sharing this video and opening yourself up so we could learn something.

[@fastbackflying853]

Glad it was helpful!. The learning never stops. I do feel the deck was stacked against me on this day.

[@keeganyost8123]

@@fastbackflying853 I agree

[@nashvillecop1]

What’s a piolet? You mean pilot, correct?

[@rhodaborrocks1654]

@@nashvillecop1 A very small one.

[@walteruntersee4524]

Seeing that it was unmarked and no notam makes it a liability for the airport! They should have had some responsibility in that!😮

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes the certainly did. No notam was ever issued even after I hit the wire.

[@walteruntersee4524]

You were very lucky to tell the tale! Just kind of apparent that it should have been known that it was a dangerous obstruction never that close to a runway path!

[@richardpark3054]

Consider habitually flying steep approaches. I fly one engine planes (for decades) and always fly steep final approach (so steep, in fact, that I imagine tower controllers gathering at the windows facing 27R (at KOAK) to watch whenever I RTB!), considering it practice for when my one engine stops providing thrust and becomes ballast. It keeps you higher for longer and consequently with more clearance from ground gotchas. Plus you practice engine out landing every time. You just start roundout and flare a little higher. You can also fly final faster as energy will be bled off with higher roundout & flare. Just a thought. Cheers!

[@Ghost_Hybrid]

Yeah this was my reaction too. Aiming at brick 1 AND flying a very shallow short final can be very risky with potential obstacles.

[@postulatingspin4470]

Yes…wires are not visible except in perfect conditions. I had a flying buddy hit some high tension lines. They did not break, but caused his plane to decelerate to almost zero, then drop to the ground nose first. He survived with serious leg injury. After that incident, he never got his mojo back. He bought another plane, but was just to psychologically damaged to fly it….he would just wax it in the hanger. As a float plane pilot, I have landed in coves only to discover after landing….there were uncharted wires on my approach path. After the second incident, I quit float flying….the fear of the invisible got to me.

[@fastbackflying853]

I can full understand all of that.

[@postulatingspin4470]

I am still flying, but now out of conventional well published airports….fixed gear under sport pilot now to avoid medical hassles

[@saabpoppa]

You were indeed very lucky. One point: I notice that on the takeoff at the end of this video, both before taking the runway, during the ground roll, and on climbout you are spending the majority of your time looking down at something instead of outside for traffic. Just an observation.

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes you are very correct about that I would certainly never dream of flying a tailwheel aircraft in this manner. Head down in the cockpit dealing with technology, Avionics and instruments can certainly lead to incidents and accidents. The airport I'm departing from at the end of the video is Ogden in Utah and is a controlled Airport. I had a number of instructions given to me and changes in my route that I had to program into my Avionics before departure. I've been sitting at the end of that runway for over 5 minutes. The reason for me being so head down during the takeoff and climb out is due to the altitude that I was at. I was spending extra time ensuring that my mixture controls were correctly set to give me the correct pressure and therefore fuel air mixture for the engines. This needed adjusting on the take off and it needs to be done carefully. The takeoff I had done immediately proceeding this was from an airfield in Wyoming with a field elevation of 7,900 feet. The right engine actually quit due to flooding! Luckily this occurred on the ground before I even release the brakes. Needless to say this it made me a bit nervous.

[@tylerfb1]

@@fastbackflying853 thanks for the answer, I was wondering "what is he looking at" cause it didn't look like the ASI.

[@thecommentary21]

*What in G-ds name are you going on about? You're all over the place. Calm down. Sheesh. Im still trying to figure out WTF you're saying.*

[@riggitydoo5116]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bradh74]

Hope somebody figures out they need to pay better attention to details like this so we don't have anymore accidents. It would be a bad day if anyone (number of people on board) hit this, what if a whole family was to loose their lives? Then what? Really sad they dropped the ball on this. Glad you two lived to tell the tail, are safe, well and back to enjoying your lives. Do all the 310 guys get the cutest co pilots? lol Just kidding, but would really be bad to have to go to the Hospital after a weekend flight. Take care and good luck!

[@fastbackflying853]

Its on the checklist for the 310 right after the cabin door latch. Then its cute co-pilot, then seat belts lol

[@edspencer7121]

CFS not making a critical change on flight maps in a timely manner? Who holds that organization to the flame?? The airport should help with those repairs as far as I'm concerned. And why shouldn't it be mandatory to have wires buried initially? Especially at an airport runway. Great video! Glad to see everyone walked away unscathed! Thumbs up and subbed 👍

[@pdutube]

I'm so glad you made it out of this situation safely. I was imagining myself hitting a wire in the Cherokee and I came to the same conclusion, I'd probably be dead. Several years ago I read an article about obstruction heights being unreliable on approach plates, specifically treetop heights on terrain and it just goes to show that the documents we rely on are often wrong or misleading. I really believe that all wires should be marked with appropriate visual identification devices, like those orange balls on transmission lines, regardless of height, if it's on the final approach course they should be marked.

[@allen480]

Agreed but are those warning Balls lit up at night? non pilot, just curious.

[@pdutube]

@@allen480 There are lighted marker balls but they are generally restricted to high power transmission lines of long span. The guidance for lighting is in Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-1M. If you have trouble sleeping I will provide a link below. The term for a wire obstruction is a catenary in the advisory circular. FAA guidance would be required because the big issue is that a lighted marker cannot be confusing to a flight crew performing an instrument approach with expected lighting cues. Not every runway has a published instrument approach. It would be more likely that a wire of smaller span and lower power (< 69 kV) or no power, would get unlighted marker balls: orange, yellow, white, or alternating. Aircraft landing lights might illuminate them at night. Caveat: I'm only a pilot, not a facilities administrator. www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/Advisory_Circular_70_7460_1M.pdf

[@teneretraveler5130]

Why would you ever try to land on a displaced threshold? You can use it for takeoff, but not for landing.

[@fastbackflying853]

@teneretraveler5130 i didnt land on the displaced threshold! Thats the point! I landed past the displaced threshold and still hit an unmarked wire.

[@terryboehler5752]

Close in steep approach. Solves many problems. Short landings are easier this way. I know ill be beat up in the comments but i dont care. These long flat approaches are the problem, not the solution.

[@fastbackflying853]

I agree with you. In this case a very steep approach was required. You can see that when we returned a few months later. I would just reiterate that I did keep myself high until past the expected obstacles and the dropped down at a 3 degree or higher approach. After carefully reading the information and making 2 passes I obviously felt safe with my approach. I got bit by an unmarked wire way to close to the runway.

[@douglaskaye1395]

Who thought it was a good idea to 1) put a wire across the end of a runway 2) install wind turbine ANYWHERE near an airport. Absolutely insane

[@fastbackflying853]

I think some poeple who don't fly

[@theflyingfool]

Wow! Scary story. I'm very glad you were all OK and the aircraft has been returned to flight.

[@fastbackflying853]

Thank you kindly. It really didn't need to happen.

[@deanc.5984]

THATS CRAZY CLOSE! WIRES across the runway approach!! Govt failure!

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes it definitely is a bit of an institutional fail here but also astonishing that an airport would lie about it and not have them clearly marked and identified.

[@bookoobeans]

You are so lucky. I can't imagine what they were thinking stringing up that wire in that location, utterly ridiculous. Whoever "they" are, it seems they are liable for cost of repairs.

[@ovalwingnut]

GR8T. You discovered the problem. It was somebody else. Good flying... you RoCk. Cheers from So. CA. USA

[@vityok3000]

Its interesting how all the wires can be buried underground in new neighborhoods - electricity, internet, phone, cable, fiber optics, but this one wire at the threshold of the airport runway cant be buried. ???

[@WhiteHawk77]

Time to sign up for the navy? 😬 Joking aside, and I don’t know you but glad it didn’t end up worse for you. Very bad form not to have the airfield information updated immediately for something like that and the power company not making the line more visible.

[@thepilot9796]

what kind of incompetency by the local govt allowed this! I would have filed a tort claim...but, this is in Canada....so...well good luck

[@RalphEllis]

Why no balls on the wire? In Europe, all wires near airports must have visibility balls. R

[@remote1426]

Lots of finger pointing and blame placing going on here. How many successful take offs and landings has there been at this airport before? I never fly shallow approaches and this video illustrates one reason why.

[@OUTDOORS55]

What a fantastic place for an invisible power line. 350ft from the end of the runway. 🤦‍♂️

[@jackshittle]

Sounds like a great place to learn to fly. "Hey, we know you are a brand new student who never flew - but we have a wire of death at the end of the runway just to keep you on your toes.. So as you're thinking of 3000 things at one time while trying to fly the plane, takeoff/land- remember there is a wire there. Good luck!".

[@scottwhitcher265]

I don't understand how anything that presents a hazard to flight can be near an airfield nor how whoever put it there does not have liability for the damage, especially in any district that has"zoning" laws.

[@alexwalker-wo9hx]

You didn’t mention height. 30 AGL is pretty low

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes it is but given the fact that this is within 500 feet of the displaced runway and inside the obstacle clearance path it is not surprising to find yourself there while landing. No one actually measured the hight of the wire but given some of the other errors in reporting it would also not be out of the realm of possibility that this measurement is also wrong! Standard pole heights are now over 60feet

[@zeberdee1972]

Im not a Pilot but I work in the Aviation Industry as a Crash Firefighter ( ARFF ) and it says a lot of how strong those C-310's must be made . Yes plenty of damage yet it stayed together and you made a good landing after with no effects on controls , engines etc . Tough aircraft , she saved the day . In my eyes she is a keeper 🙂. It would have been nice maybe if the power company had put some of those orange balls on the power cable to make it more visible as it is right at the end of a runway . Just my take on it as from the footage and picture it is hard to spot that cable .

[@fastbackflying853]

It really is an impressive airplane.

[@zeberdee1972]

@@fastbackflying853 I do like the C-310 , good aircraft and this proves it .

[@mrsmith324]

Give the power company the repair bill. They owe you for the repairs because the wire was not marked with an orange ball at the end of the runway.

[@MrLeslloyd]

Good point although i would engage a lawyer to get some advise,as there's others who could be successfully sued here as well.Surprised there's been no mention of insurance,generally they would be into suing in this case.

[@zeberdee1972]

Well that's annoying the fact that the cable should have been buries and the airfield should have been shut !!! . At least now it can't happen again but that didn't help you at the time .

[@fastbackflying853]

I agree and was very upset to damage my airplane. We had to push alot to get authorities to finally do something.

[@zeberdee1972]

@@fastbackflying853 Well thank you for doing that , should this have even happened as it should have been sorted before you even arrived there . Hopefully now this can't happen again but how many other airfields have the same or similar problems .

[@dennyliegerot4021]

Glad you survived but damn!...the fact that there are people that thought stringing a wire in that location was acceptable is beyond me. You did everything right, so who is to be held responsible? You're correct, if you were flying a single engine you most likely wouldn't be around to post this video! Airports should be checked from coast to coast, approaches photographed and reports must include an individuals signature certifying that all criteria has been met and conditions updated. Wow!

[@fastbackflying853]

Agreed. Even the current distance information is incorrect and that really sets you uo for trouble.

[@76pilotpeters43]

Me: helo pilot for 45 years. When I first saw the headline I went to pilot error. Glad I watched it. NOT pilot error and I hope the airport paid for the repairs. That was criminal..

[@josephalberta1145]

How screwed up is that having that unmarked wire. Seems like you have a case for reparations. Glad you walked away.

[@psbassett]

Unbelievable incompetence by everyone but you. Sounds like you did it right.

[@pcka12]

How could anyone string a wire across a runway approach in that way!

[@GlensHangar]

What a nightmare!

[@fastbackflying853]

That describes it perfectly! I am very lucky my father took some pictures on approach as it really helped prove our position, airspeed, altitude and barometric pressure setting. A good reason to fly with a camera rolling all the time yet I still dont do that!

[@JonnyJetPilot]

Man, that’s scary. Glad we didn’t loose another fellow aviator!

[@dr.markc.ferris8834]

Sorry to hear. I had a 310d for many years. If I can be of any technical assistance please let me know.

[@garyalgier4811]

Wow so incredible you made it. I will relate that it takes a few deadly accidents to move the wires. My father in the 70s an ntsb investigator in the San Fernando Valley investigated a few fatal and wire hits at the end of the runway at Wittman Airport.. they actually had wires 50ft from the threshold . They kill someone and put it back up. Kill somebody else and put it back up....etc. drove him crazy trying to get the lines moved. 20 years later they moved them.

[@DanFrederiksen]

Yeah that's not ideal. Any close power lines can be marked with big plastic thingies they attach to power lines to make them visible.

[@fastbackflying853]

Close power lines certainly should be marked the poles can also be wrapped to indicate a hazard. This power line was so close to the runway has to be inside the obstacle clear path and even if it was marked it would not be allowed to stay or meet the regulations.

[@paulrenny8388]

Thanks for posting and well done. It is really upsetting how the aviation regulator in this country has been totally stripped of its ability to actually function and enforce properly. As a result, aviation in Canada is becoming the “Wild West”. I am sure you see evidence of that in the maintenance world as well. The airport operator should be held accountable. I also see a large in crease of “PPR” noted in the CFS. At one obviously public airport I asked why the PPR comment in the CFS? The response was “so we are not liable for anything unless you have written permission, which nobody obtains.” How pathetic is that?

[@fastbackflying853]

You are correct on everything there. Maintenance is becoming scary and airports acting in ways that increase the likelihood of accidents or incidents!

[@scottwhitcher265]

It seems that the power company (government) should be luable. It's their wire and they put it there.

[@GeorgeStar]

As a non-pilot I'm shocked there isn't some kind of minimum safety standard that all airports are required to meet which would preclude this sort of thing.

[@dukeblue219]

There is. But sometimes rules aren't followed nor enforced, especially in the middle of nowhere. That's really the crux of the issue here.

[@Tatertot_Tommy]

Is there any record of how many airplanes have landed at that airport WITHOUT hit the wire? You spent a LOT of time making excuses about what happened, but no time explaining why no one else has hit the wire.

[@fastbackflying853]

Not many airplanes visiting that are not based at the airport. The wire was a new obstacle unmarked. Eveyone was just landing past it but becuase I didnt know it was there and was in a twin I hit the wire. Perhaps a follow up video with some additional details.

[@simonbaxter8001]

On google street view, the un charted set of wires across the poles closer to the runway threshold are quite obvious and just crazy! ... not just at the road! Check it out.

[@fastbackflying853]

I bever thought to look there. The Google Maps satellite image has the runway still under initial construction.

[@simonbaxter8001]

@@fastbackflying853 Street view shows the hard surface being extended towards the road ... towards the wires (two sets on the closer poles, 3 to 4ft vertically apart). Helps with the available take off distance, but I've never seen any other airfield with such a close and dangerous hazard! Visibility markers on the wires (i.e. orange balls) would have helped spot the danger. Looks like a total uncoordinated mess by the airfield and authorities! Glad the physical outcome for you guys was ok, even though it financially cost you a small fortune.

[@bretthibbs6083]

I'm glad that you guys are okay and it sucks that it happened but I thought and I know that this is in Canada and I live in the U.S. that the airports would have at least a marker ball on the powerlines so that pilots can see them better. I know we have them here at all of the airports and airstrips here in Minnesota in fact there's a little airstrip a few miles away and they have the red marker balls on the powerlines there and also there's a airstrip up in brainerd MN by one of the biggest resorts there and they have the marker balls there.

[@danielmierop662]

Thank You for sharing, glad your ok! Hope you can be compensated from the town and engineers.

[@byronofcascadia8629]

Seems some orange “balls” hung on wires were also missing

[@dominic9028]

The fact that there are poles on either side of approach should have made a light come on that MAYBE there are wires there. Your criticizing the approach and all the information available. When the poles were right there.....

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes very easy to say after the fact but that is why we flew over the place twice. The poles running along side do bring power to the airport property. I never expected nor should there have been a wire pulled across to the adjacent property and unfortunately I could not see it. Thats sort of the point of the video.

[@eugenedemille2079]

If there was ever a place for 5 or 6 of those orange 'visibility balls' we see on power transmission lines in the states, this was it.

[@section8usmc53]

They shouldn't need them at all because the wire shouldn't even be there, as it's within the standard glidepath.

[@marsgal42]

😢 One of my favourite local airports (Vernon CYVK) has a gas station and a power line under the final approach for runway 23, but it's done right. Everything is marked, the displaced threshold and PAPI are suitable, and the CFS is accurate.

[@fastbackflying853]

I fly into a lot of really small airports with obstacles in various aircraft. Funny that an airport with a 3,000 ft runway and incorrect published information would be the one to get me into trouble.

[@donaldwilson5693]

In the US, those power lines would have been required to have those spherical, orange visibility markers on them.

[@fastbackflying853]

The requirement here due to the proximity to the runway was that they had to be buried. Unfortunately they got stung by the power company and before they were removed I hit them. No markings or NOTAM issued about them so not good.

[@heatherpowell8121]

Very thorough reportage! A shame it takes an accident to rectify things on the ground! Flight supplement I assume will be updated as Transport investigation would produce a report?

[@fastbackflying853]

You would think but its been a year!

[@tylerfb1]

@@fastbackflying853 you need to file suit. Transport Canada and others will do the same thing again.

[@lilibethdoherty295]

Your 9 lives are now officially Eight !

[@capnhardway]

Has it been moved? Doesn't seem right to me.

[@jamesdolph437]

Canada ... go figure ... who paid for the damage

[@fastbackflying853]

Insurance

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

At least you didn't hit it with your face, like I did, to a 7,200 volt line on a dusk landing in a hang glider in 1978. Still flying !

[@davebrittain9216]

Woa! You are lucky! I am curious if you could answer a few questions. 1) What was the total tally for the damage? 2) Did you go through your insurance or out of pocket? 3) Was there a lawsuit considering the cost of the damage and the devaluation of the aircraft? To me there was clearly some negligence.

[@adseabs]

Thanks for sharing this! I've shared this video with all of my local flying friends to reinforce (as you described) how important it is to be vigilant and do the proper planning for every flight. Clearly things can fall through the cracks and that extra look can make a big difference. Praise be to Penny for keeping you safe!

[@fastbackflying853]

You are very welcome I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful. The wires really are not visible at all. I always tell my students to look for the polls because even large main power lines can be almost impossible to spot unless you look for the towers. I never in a million years expected wires to be strong across that runway less than 500 ft from the start of it. It really is truly mad. They weren't there until recently and the fact that the airport had been closed until they were removed and that was lied about is incredibly frustrating.

[@jimwinchester339]

At least you got your moral vindication.

[@privatepilot4064]

Have you taken the 310 To Yuma? I had to say that! I’m glad you got things worked out on the airplane.

[@fastbackflying853]

That made me laugh alot. I am ashamed now as I was in Arizona with the 310 in September yet did not go to Yuma! A missed opportunity for sure lol

[@eltomas3634]

If you do wonder down to Yamu, use caution, they have a wire across the runway about 1500ft from the threshold. Albeit an arresting cable and it's marked. But it will get your attention if you roll over it fast.

[@privatepilot4064]

@@eltomas3634 Thanks for the heads up! I’m an ex Navy guy so I’ll have my tail hook down!

[@privatepilot4064]

@@fastbackflying853 😀 If you’re doing Arizona way again, stop into CGZ.

[@fastbackflying853]

Okay sounds like a plan.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

I fly around and under powerlines while I'm working and keep a sharp eye out for them, I even have a set of powerlines over my own airstrip that I have to land under. But in that situation, I'm not even sure if I would've seen them, much less someone that wasn't expecting to see powerlines right off the edge of the runway like that. The absolute least they could've done was put up some markers on the powerline and they didn't even bother to do that. I'm generally the kind of person that lets things go but that could've absolutely killed someone, and the fault would lie directly with whoever was managing that airport.

[@fastbackflying853]

Thanks for your comment it is great to get some support. It really was stunning. I thought I was doing everything I needed to keep us safe and watch for windmills and find the wires as marked. It still went wrong and I am just lucky it was not worse.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

@@fastbackflying853 Don't be hard on yourself, I'm not seeing anything that you'd be at fault for. Sure, if you were being hyper aware you might have seen them at the last second (which might have ended worse if you tried to hop over at the last second riding the stall warning), but no pilot should be expected to see something like that right next to a runway. That's the fault of the airport, and the reason why it was even there to begin with is because it costs more money to bury those lines or relocate them. I have no doubt they had the option, weighed the pros and cons, and decided to string them up on the approach because they were being cheap at the expense of safety. I've been through exactly one set of powerlines myself, in planes that were meant to deflect or cut them. They still scare the crap out of you and repair costs can be ridiculous, especially if you arc through a turbine bearing. Fortunately I was flying behind an R1340 and the prop cut the wires with nothing more than cosmetic damage. A little touch up paint and all was well. A little advice that ag pilots often tell new guys...it may not be terribly relevant to GA pilots but in cases like this, maybe it would help? -Don't look for the wires, look for poles or structures that wires could be strung between. They're a lot easier to see intuitively, and if you get in the habit of treating these places like a no man's land, then you're far less likely to have a wire strike. Sometimes the poles can be hidden behind trees and the wire will span the distance of the clearing. Poles can have guy wires too, especially when the lines make a turn or a corner. Circle over if anything looks suspect until you can verify one way or another. -Most pilots who die in wind farms aren't hitting wind turbines. They're hitting the portable meteorological towers that are unmarked and pop up in unexpected places. These towers are very thin, comparatively, and are hard to see unless spotted from below at near ground height. If you have to go between turbines for any reason, keep your eyes peeled for almost invisible towers. You can fly under the blades with relative ease, but you won't make it through them when they're moving. Be cautious of flying near stationary horizontal blades, sometimes workers are present and there's a line going from the blade tip to the ground. A few years back a pilot sent a worker flying 20ft in the air when he flew into the line that was attached to his harness. Kinda funny in a way but not really, nobody was hurt. -If they're not obviously free standing, towers will have three to four sets of guy wires for support. Look for the anchor points in the ground and trace up to the top for a visual reference of where the wires are if you have to fly in close proximity. If you can't see them, expect that they'll extend out at least as far as the tower's height. That'll keep you out of harm's way. I've only met one pilot who survived an encounter with a guy wire, and knew a lot of great pilots who didn't survive. Be safe and clear skies!

[@224valk4]

How many would have lost awareness and crashed that close to wheels down? GOOD JOB OF AVIATE/NAVIGATE/ COMMUNICATE

[@fastbackflying853]

Thank you.

[@224valk4]

@@fastbackflying853 Pilot since 1985. Flown everything from Tomahawks to Cessna 421's. Love the 310 & BIG FAN OF TWIN CAMANCHE WITH LOPRESTI MODS & BIGGER POWERPLANTS. Good friend hit a wire in a Pawnee. Crop dusting hazard of the trade! Be safe!!

[@rafaelallenblock]

The thing I'm most impressed with is how well your noise canceling mic works while flying.

[@fastbackflying853]

DC One X fantastic headset. I have a review video on it if your interested

[@rafaelallenblock]

Thnx if I ever take up flying I'll get a set LOL I'm an audio engineer/musician and OF COURSE that would be the thing I notice first! @@fastbackflying853

[@wadeh9124]

Glad this turned out for the better with an landing and walking away. But I'm curious as to liability now? I'm not sure how Canadian litigation works but is the airport held accountable for financial recovery of damages to the plane and downtime?

[@fastbackflying853]

There are various ways that this could unfold. It would certainly be possible to pursue legal action against the airport. My insurance company basically told me that insufficient damage occurred to the aircraft to justify legal action. Had someone being hurt, killed all the aircraft written off then they would have gone after the airport for the damages.

[@taproom113]

Unbelievable! Glad it wasn't fatal. Unforgivable to not have that issue resolved in a reasonable amount of time. Skal ... ^v^

[@fastbackflying853]

Thanks. I am very grateful I didnt hurt anyone.

[@dagger4146]

Who paid for the damage and repairs ? Glad you and your passenger were not maimed or killed.

[@fastbackflying853]

Damages to the aircraft and repairs were covered by the insurance company for the most part.

[@dagger4146]

@@fastbackflying853 I hope they can recover the loss instead of making you pay for it with jacked up premiums. No way was this your fault.

[@bigrich6750]

That’s insane! They’ve put a deadly booby trap in front of the runway. That’s one of the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.

[@doctorcountersteer6580]

YOU cats have guardian angels

[@crooked-halo]

My brother was a hot air balloon pilot & I flew with him many times over several years. He always recruited _everyone_ in the basket to look for powerlines on approach because they are _very_ difficult to see from the air. They tend to blend in with the ground.

[@Diogenes425]

An obvious disconnect between two agencies, each geared for public & air travel safety occured. Obviously an aircraft emergency possibly needing a lot of room to land was not taken into account and corrected before this incident occured.

[@davidamato768]

Is there anything you could have done differently to avoid this?

[@fastbackflying853]

Yes I think there are. An additional pass down the runway at 200 feet would have perhaps helped but I can not be sure we would have seen the wire even then. A steeper approach could have helped but I was certainly getting close to the limit for the airplane and conditions.

[@mitchski98]

"All roads have wires"...taught to every Army Aviator since the beginning of aviation time. Glad you lived to talk about it

[@smudge6831]

Glad you’re still with us. Amazing story

[@edcew8236]

What are the extrusions above the cowling air intakes? Never seen anything like that before... Thanks!

[@matt_b...]

Holy hell. You said it at the end - you were mere inches away from a much more serious event.

[@fulks19]

It's just amazing they didn't at least have those orange or red balls on the wires. I fly a foot launched powered paraglider off the back of my property. There was a power line between my property and the neighbor. I had the power company bury the line from one pole to the other just for safety sake. It cost about $4,000 but at least I know I will never hit that power line. I can't believe a public airport let that go for so many years.

[@JoeKyser]

It makes no sense they are stringing wires there like that. How about properly mark them.

[@erickborling1302]

Dude. Don't be playing with your phone on the runway.

[@fastbackflying853]

Not playing. All my flight logging, times, and tracking is done on the phone. Good adjustment though to get this all done prior to taking position.

[@dwightbrown2808]

It had to be very expensive. I hope the airport paid for it, seems like they would be responsible.