On 6 Jan 2005 23:06:12 -0600, Andrew Sarangan
wrote:

I wonder how often that really happens. I know of only one case when a
Seattle pilot hung on a wire. I would imagine that the chance of hitting
a wire and hanging upside down is just as remote as surviving a midair
collision. I could be wrong though.

Not related to the original "descent below minimums"-question, but
anyway:

A couple of years ago our club lost an Archer. It ran out of gas about
20 miles from the destination, but just over a glider airfield with
plenty of runway available. The pilot misjudged the gliding capability
and flew a too-wide traffic pattern. The airfield was located on a
plateau, and about half a mile before the threshold there was a
powerline crossing the approach path at about field elevation.

Our poor plane ended up dangling in that powerline and its occupants
had to be freed by the local fire brigade. One of them spent a few
nights in hospital, but nothing really serious.

Tobias