# NTSB investigations: Tower/antenna (incl guy wires)

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 55 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA252.md): Air Tractor AT802 · Whiting, KS · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2026 · N808HB · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Air Tractor AT-802A · England, AR · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 1, 2024 · N8515G · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Lockwood AIR CAM · Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 29, 2024 · N315GW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a meteorological evaluation tower.
- [NTSB ERA23LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA071.md): Mooney M20J · Gaithersburg, MD · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 27, 2022 · N201RF · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Cessna T210 · Burleson, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 27, 2022 · N36X · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Ayres S2R-T65 · Wyman / Washington, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2022 · N9899 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot not maintaining sufficient altitude to clear an obstruction during the aerial application flight.
- [NTSB ERA22LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA204.md): Cessna 172A · Stockbridge, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 25, 2022 · N7572T · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Cessna 182Q · Carlsbad, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 19, 2021 · N91AZ · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Nappanee, IN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2021 · N602RE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations.
- [NTSB ERA20LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA306.md): Thrush S2R-H80 · Hawkinsville, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 3, 2020 · N30529 · Substantial damage
  > 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 WPR20LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA249.md): North American Navion · Cedar City, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2020 · N225HJ · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper fuel planning and failure to see and avoid the communications tower support guy wire.
- [NTSB ANC20CA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA070.md): Bell 206L-1 · Homer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 16, 2020 · N1432D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the boat's mast, which resulted in a main rotor blade strike. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning by not having the boat's mast measured.
- [NTSB ERA20CA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA210.md): Great Lakes 2T 1A · St. Mary's, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 8, 2020 · N863K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain proper glide path during final approach which resulted in a collision with airport equipment short of the runway.
- [NTSB WPR20FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA063.md): Cessna TR182 · Billings, MT · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 12, 2020 · N736YU · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance due to poor decision making in selecting an unsafe altitude during cruise flight.
- [NTSB CEN19LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA308.md): Cessna 150 · Whitehall, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 9, 2019 · N9492U · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s flight into a water tower while operating below minimum safe altitudes for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.
- [NTSB GAA19CA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA352.md): Air Tractor AT402 · Liberal, KS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 17, 2019 · N5044Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid a windmill tower while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA003.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Placedo, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 2018 · N6135P · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.
- [NTSB CEN18FA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA359.md): Piper PA28R · Kaplan, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 31, 2018 · N7430J · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a charted and illuminated television/radio tower.
- [NTSB GAA18CA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA366.md): Robinson R66 · Cordova, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 19, 2018 · N7040P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in impact with brush and a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB CEN18FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA232.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Enid, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jun 19, 2018 · N2063B · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid a known obstacle (communications tower) during agricultural spraying operations.
- [NTSB WPR18LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA076.md): Buckeye Industries Dream Machine 582 · Chester, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 19, 2018 · N92048 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.
- [NTSB GAA17CA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA491.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Westby, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2017 · N97UP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB ERA17LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA249.md): Grumman G 164 · Marydel, DE · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2017 · N691Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while conducting an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB GAA17CA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA385.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Edna, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 2, 2017 · N6135P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a tower during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN17FA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA127.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Chalmers, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 14, 2017 · N530KD · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to ensure that the needle did not entangle with the tower's vertical lattice as he moved the helicopter rearward, which resulted in the helicopter becoming tethered to the tower and a subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB GAA17CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA170.md): Maule M5 · Roxbury, KS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 2, 2017 · N56552 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around.
- [NTSB CEN17FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA095.md): Cessna 177 · Price, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 31, 2017 · N2810X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a communications tower guy-wire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct a long distance transition flight at a low altitude.
- [NTSB ERA17LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA014.md): Cessna 525 · Pawtucket, RI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2016 · N518AR · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's failure to maintain an appropriate approach speed and obtain an appropriate touchdown point on the runway, which resulted in a runway overrun.
- [NTSB GAA16CA462](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA462.md): Air Tractor AT · Hondo, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 5, 2016 · N31627 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an antenna atop a tower while maneuvering at a low altitude and the airplane’s subsequent impact with terrain during an attempted off-airport landing.
- [NTSB CEN16LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA326.md): Thrush S2R T660 · Ruthton, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 19, 2016 · N40499 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the tower guy-wire during an agricultural spraying operation.
- [NTSB WPR16FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA120.md): Rockwell S2R · De Smet, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 6, 2016 · N4191X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from guy wires during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reduced ability to see the guy wires due to sun glare.
- [NTSB CEN16LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA181.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · West, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 14, 2016 · N1546Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid cellular tower guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate at low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA15CA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA251.md): Air Tractor AT 402A · Fort Pierre, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 4, 2015 · N321DA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in the airplane striking guy-wires during aerial application operations.
- [NTSB CEN14CA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA427.md): Air Tractor AT 401B · Cimarron, KS · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 13, 2014 · N9071Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna guy wire during an aerial application pass.
- [NTSB WPR14CA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA296.md): Bell 47G 2A · Merced, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 18, 2014 · N47DT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to adequately monitor the environment to maintain clearance from the power pole guide wire during low level maneuvering.
- [NTSB ERA14MA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14MA271.md): Gulfstream Aerospace G IV · Bedford, MA · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 1, 2014 · N121JM · Destroyed
  > The flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked.…
- [NTSB ANC14CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA010.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Soldotna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 4, 2013 · N88342 · Substantial damage
  > The operation of the airplane by the uncertificated student pilot, his failure to recognize conditions conducive to structural icing, and subsequent decision to depart in conditions conducive to structural icing, resulting in a severe icing encounter and…
- [NTSB ERA14CA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA040.md): Beech E 55 · Blountville, TN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 5, 2013 · N1908L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's delayed reaction and loss of directional control while performing a simulated engine failure during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the CFI's delayed reaction to the loss of directional control.
- [NTSB WPR14LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA008.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369 · Paducah, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2013 · N530KF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power transmission line tower while maneuvering to pick up a rope in gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR14LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA005.md): Cessna 340A · Paulden, AZ · Accident · 4 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2013 · N312GC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear a radio tower while maneuvering at low altitude and his decision to make a high-speed, low pass over the gun club.
- [NTSB CEN13FA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA465.md): Air Tractor AT-400 · Balko, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2013 · N3159B · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure maintain clearance from a meteorological tower while en route at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.
- [NTSB CEN13LA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA425.md): Air Tractor AT-400 · Steward, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2013 · N155HF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires during an aerial application maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify potential obstructions in the area before beginning low-altitude maneuvers.
- [NTSB CEN13LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA163.md): PZL Mielec M-18A · Jennings, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 15, 2013 · N4305D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with guy wires during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN13FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA009.md): Bell 206B · Crowley, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N333DR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the broadcast tower guy-wires.
- [NTSB CEN12CA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA546.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Hanley Falls, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2012 · N1021D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a guy wire during an agricultural application pass.
- [NTSB CEN12LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA236.md): Ayres S2R-T15 · Lakin, KS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 2012 · N64DX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR11LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA375.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Willcox, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2011 · N5123L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower.
- [NTSB WPR11LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA094.md): Rockwell International S-2R · Oakley, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 10, 2011 · N4977X · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight collision with an unmarked meteorological evaluation tower (MET) during an aerial application flight due to the pilot's failure to see and avoid the obstacle. Contributing to the accident was the lack of visual conspicuity of the MET and the lack…
- [NTSB CEN10TA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10TA006.md): Beech E18S · Jones Creek, TX · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Oct 3, 2009 · N797SB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the radio tower.
- [NTSB ERA09FA417](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA417.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Boonsboro, MD · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2009 · N7189W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to depart on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight at night in adverse weather conditions in close proximity to rising mountainous terrain in a helicopter that was only certified to be operated under VFR and his subsequent failure…

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '03022017'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases

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