# Accident 20040918022049A: Ayres S2R, Firebaugh, CA, September 18, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2004, 10:06 local time
- Place: Firebaugh, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: VT6G
- Location: 36.8500° N, 120.4514° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8500&lon=-120.4514&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8822Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8822Q-2007-08-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander S2R (registry code 0143022, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A34AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 12,500 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA323) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040918022049A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS SPRAYING A FIELD AT NIGHT, FLYING UNDER HIGH TENSION POWERLINES SUSPENDED BY TOWERS, THAT CONVERGED INTO HIS FLIGHT PATH. THINKING HE WAS AT THE END OF THE FIELD, THE PILOT PULLED UP, INTO ONE OF THE SUSPENDED POWERLINES. THE POWERLINE WAS SEVERED AFTER WHICH THE PILOT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN DURING WHICH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN BEFORE A POWER OFF, WINGS LEVEL, FORCED LANDING INTO AN ORCHARD.

## 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 LAX04CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA323), Sep 18, 2004: Aero Commander S2R (N8822Q), Firebaugh, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from high tension wires in dark night conditions. The reason for the loss of engine power after the wire collision was not determined.

## Other reports on N8822Q (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20020805017049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020805017049A), Aug 5, 2002: Ayres S2R (N8822Q), Losbanos, CA, No damage. (-23) On 08-05-02 at approximately 0615 hours PDT, Mr. Handy, a commercial pilot working for vance theil, inc., was engaged in agricultural aerial application…
- [Accident 19830317008379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830317008379A), Mar 17, 1983: Ayres S2RRESTD (N8822Q), Dos Palos, CA, Substantial damage. Veered off the landing strip into mud and nosed over. Was landing with a quartering tail wind.

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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