N2344C

On June 11, 2001, at 1705 central daylight time, a Cessna R182, N2344C, operated by a commercial pilot collided with a guy wire for an antenna tower, in Raymore, Missouri. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91, aerial photography flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Booneville, Missouri, at 1430. The pilot was able to gain control of the airplane after the collision and a landing was made at Lee's Summit, Missouri.

The pilot reported that he was flying at an altitude of 700 feet above ground level (agl) for the aerial photography flight. He reported he completed the work and he "...started a gradual climb while making slow clearing turns...." He continued to report, "At approximately 17:05 the aircraft was on a Northerly heading at approximately 1,800 feet MSL (800 feet AGL), when I felt it jolt violently and temporarily go out of control. After regaining control of the aircraft, I noticed a section of my left wing was missing." The pilot reported that he regained control of the airplane and determined that he could continue to fly it instead of landing in a field. He reported that he kept open fields under the airplane and proceeded to the Lee Summit Airport where he made an uneventful landing.

Post accident investigation revealed the outboard 40 inches of the left wing were found on the ground below a tower designated as the Harrisonville Site. The tower was inspected and no damage or paint transfers were noted, however the tower is reinforced with guy wires. The tower is painted red and white and is lighted with a red flashing light which was operable at the time of the accident. In addition, the tower is depicted on Kansas City Sectional Aeronautical Chart and the Kansas State Aeronautical Charts. The chart shows the tower as being 843 feet tall.

The pilot reported that he has 12,000 hours of flight time, the majority of which has been accumulated by doing aerial photography.