What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Struck a pole during aerial application, tore off part of left wing and aileron, returned, lost control,cartwheeled (-23) on 09/24/96, at 1419 central daylight time, N9537J, a Cessna T188C, registered to aaa flying service, in mcallen, Texas, and operated by j.r. davis on the Texas boll weavial eradication contract, struck an electric pole while maneuvering to conduct aerial application. The pole strike severed 3 feet and the aileron from the left wing. The commercial pilot managed to keep the aircraft airborne for 13 minutes to get back to the Snyder airport. On final approach, after reducing power required, the aircraft rolled left until the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in a cartwheel and post accident engine fire. The pilot walked away uninjured.
As the FAA filed it
STRUCK A POLE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION, TORE OFF PART OF LEFT WING AND AILERON, RETURNED, LOST CONTROL,CARTWHEELED (-23) ON 09/24/96, AT 1419 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, N9537J, A CESSNA T188C, REGISTERED TO AAA FLYING SERVICE, IN MCALLEN, TEXAS, AND OPERATED BY J.R. DAVIS ON THE TEXAS BOLL WEAVIAL ERADICATION CONTRACT, STRUCK AN ELECTRIC POLE WHILE MANEUVERING TO CONDUCT AERIAL APPLICATION. THE POLE STRIKE SEVERED 3 FEET AND THE AILERON FROM THE LEFT WING. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT MANAGED TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE FOR 13 MINUTES TO GET BACK TO THE SNYDER AIRPORT. ON FINAL APPROACH, AFTER REDUCING POWER REQUIRED, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT UNTIL THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND, RESULTING IN A CARTWHEEL AND POST ACCIDENT ENGINE FIRE. THE PILOT WALKED AWAY UNINJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.