REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT WAS ON AN AIR TAXI CARGO FLT, OPERATED BY AIR EXPRESS, HAYWARD, CA. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY DEPARTED RENO, NV WITHOUT A FLT PLAN FOR A FLT TO SACRAMENTO & HAYWARD, CAL. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE TURNED OFF ALL UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING TRAVIS AFB, HE TURNED ON 1 RADIO & REQUESTED A PART APPROACHTO LAND. HOWEVER, WHILE RECEIVING VECTORS, HE LOST RADIO CONTACT & ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING, A WING OF THE ACFT HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. THE WX AT TRAVIS WAS 400 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1 3/4 MI WITH FOG. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT GENERATOR ARMATURE LEAD HAD BEEN REMOVED & WAS INSULATED FROM ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE LEFT GENERATOR ARMATURE LEAD HAD BROKEN LOOSE & THE BATTERY HAD BECOME DISCHARGED. THE OPERATOR DID NOT SUBMIT AN ACCIDENT REPORT, SO THE TYPE OF OPERATION IS PRESUMED.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT

Contributing Factors

OBJECT..UTILITY POLE

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING

Contributing Factors

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,GENERATOR..INOPERATIVE

Contributing Factors

OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT..PERFORMED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..FOG

Contributing Factors

INITIATED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Index for Jan1983 | Index of months