On March 7, 1996, about 1233 central standard time, a Piper PA- 24, N7913P, was substantially damaged following a collision with an electrical line, and the terrain, during an approach to landing at Livingston Municipal Airport, Livingston Tennessee. The commercial pilot was not injured in the accident. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was in effect for the flight. The flight departed Wheeling, Illinois at 0845, and was enroute to Athens, Georgia. During the flight through Tennessee, the flight encountered severe icing conditions, and the pilot elected to divert to the Livingston Municipal Airport. The pilot executed an instrument approach into the airport. During the approach, when the pilot selected the landing gear to the extended position, the landing gear failed to extend. In visual flight rules flight conditions, the pilot circled the airport several times, and manually lowered the landing gear. After the gear was down and locked, the pilot attempted to execute a visual approach to the runway. According to the pilot, he failed to see, and avoid the power lines between two telephone poles at the approach end of runway 3. The aircraft struck the power lines approximately 300 feet before the approach end of the runway, and then impacted the ground 70 feet short of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties during the flight.