# Accident 19980318003709A: Ayres S2RG10, Willows, CA, March 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 18, 1998, 18:00 local time
- Place: Willows, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NHZG
- Location: 39.4995° N, 122.2799° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4995&lon=-122.2799&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32064, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32064) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ayres S2R-G10 (registry code 0970217, https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2RG10
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE33110
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA116) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980318003709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) ON MARCH 18, 1998 AT 1800 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN AYERS S2R, N32064, STRUCK POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING UNDERNEATH THEM, AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT, OPERATED BY WILLOWS FLYING SERVICE UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP DUSTING OPERATION, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TAKING A LOAD OUT TO AN ALFALFA FIELD FOR SPRAYING, AND DID NOT MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH WIRES THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT UNDER. THE RUDDER WAS TORN OFF AFTER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A CONTINUOUS RIGHT TURN AFTER THE LOSS OF THE RUDDER. THE PILOT FLEW OVER A LARGE OPEN FIELD, REDUCED POWER, AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FROM THE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE. NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE NOTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT.                                                                 (-23) WHILE PERFORMING AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION, THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE CLEARANCE BENEATH POWER LINES. THE UPPER EIGHT INCHES OF THE AIRCRAFT IS VERTICAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE HIGH TENSION CABLE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND CAUSING THE RUDDER TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY IN A NEARBY OPEN FIELD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA116), Mar 19, 1998: Ayres S2R (N32064), Willows, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wires.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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