N2501X

On December 23, 1993, at 1625 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA28-181, N2501X, collided with power lines on final approach to runway 5 at the Montgomery Field airport, San Diego, California. The aircraft, which sustained substantial damage to the propeller, windshield, vertical stabilizer and rudder, completed a full-stop landing at the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage; however, the certificated private pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Torrance, California, at 1530 hours on the day of the mishap as a cross-country personal flight.

The pilot reported in his written statement that he was on a long final approach to runway 5 when the flight experienced "some turbulence and possible wind shear" in the 18 knot headwind and collided with high tension power lines. The power lines are located about 5,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot recovered and completed a landing on the runway. No pilot reports of turbulence or wind shear were noted by the air traffic control tower either before or after the aircraft landed.