The Sheriff of Kandiyohi County (MN), Dan Hartog, told the press that pilot Nathan John Graves, 25, and Matthew Jay Tebben, 23, were trying to fly the Citabria under the power lines Saturday.

They didn't make it. Though the valiant Citabria managed to snap one wire, the combined force of the surviving metal strands was too much for it, and the little plane crumpled up in a field.

When rescuers arrived, both men were reported to have been alert and conscious.

Graves was reported in fair condition at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar (MN); his passenger was reported in serious condition Monday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

**   Report created 3/25/2003   Record 1   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1814G        Make/Model: CH7A      Description: 7ACA/ECA Champ, Citabria
  Date: 03/22/2003     Time: 2057
  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
  City: RAYMOND   State: MN   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT HIT POWER LINES, CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, RAYMOND, MN
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   Y
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   Y
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KILL 222056Z AUTO 24008KT 10SM CLR 13/3 A2985 RMK A02
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: MINNEAPOLIS, MN  (GL15)               Entry date: 03/24/2003