# Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030220) › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) - NTSB code: 03022017 - Cases: 55 - In the probable cause: 35 - Fatal cases: 24 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 3 / 3 - 2009: 3 / 4 - 2011: 2 / 2 - 2012: 1 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 7 - 2014: 1 / 3 - 2015: 0 / 1 - 2016: 4 / 5 - 2017: 5 / 6 - 2018: 3 / 5 - 2019: 2 / 2 - 2020: 3 / 5 - 2021: 2 / 2 - 2022: 2 / 4 - 2024: 2 / 2 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 24 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 11 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 4 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 2 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 2 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 2 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480): 1 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b): 3 cases - [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502): 3 cases - [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400): 3 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases - [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r): 2 cases - [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff): 2 cases - [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602): 2 cases - [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a): 2 cases - [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a): 2 cases - [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 25 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 23 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 8 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030) (Environmental issues): 5 cases - [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA252), Jul 13, 2026: Air Tractor AT802 (N808HB), Whiting, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight. - [NTSB CEN24LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA175), May 1, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802A (N8515G), England, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight. - [NTSB CEN24FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA101), Jan 29, 2024: Lockwood AIR CAM (N315GW), Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a meteorological evaluation tower. - [NTSB ERA23LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA071), Nov 27, 2022: Mooney M20J (N201RF), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s visual flight below published altitude minimums, which resulted in collision with a powerline tower structure. - [NTSB CEN23LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA021), Oct 27, 2022: Cessna T210 (N36X), Burleson, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel supply, which led to fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. - [NTSB CEN22LA371](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA371), Jul 21, 2022: Ayres S2R-T65 (N9899), Wyman / Washington, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining sufficient altitude to clear an obstruction during the aerial application flight. - [NTSB ERA22LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA204), Apr 25, 2022: Cessna 172A (N7572T), Stockbridge, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during an unstabilized approach, which resulted in an impact with powerlines and a subsequent loss of control - [NTSB WPR22FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA043), Nov 19, 2021: Cessna 182Q (N91AZ), Carlsbad, NM, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain separation from an FM tower guy wire while on an aerial survey flight. - [NTSB CEN21LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA318), Jul 6, 2021: Air Tractor AT-602 (N602RE), Nappanee, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations. - [NTSB ERA20LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA306), Sep 3, 2020: Thrush S2R-H80 (N30529), Hawkinsville, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna tower while maneuvering during an agricultural application flight while flying directly toward the sun. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.