- Date
- May 10, 2011, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Garwood, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5097SAir Tractor AT-301
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110510007989A
- Case key
- 79074
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from transmission wires during a low-level maneuvering flight.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he was spraying a field at a low altitude. He said that transmission wires were located near the beginning of the field. He said the airplane encountered an unexpected downdraft which shifted the flight path towards the wires. He unsuccessfully attempted to fly under the wires, but the airplane's propeller and vertical fin struck the wires. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, the vertical fin, and empennage. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not report any preimpact or mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low-altitude to apply applicant to a field. Transmission wires were located near the beginning of his job area. The pilot stated that while overflying the wires, the airplane encountered a gust of wind which shifted the airplane's flight path towards the wires. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to fly under the wires. The wires struck the airplane's propeller and vertical fin. Aircraft control was lost and the airplane impacted terrain. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage, both wings, the vertical fin, and empennage. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions prior to the collision.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5097S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0119
- Engine
- P&W R1340 SERIES, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Anf Air Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Anf Air Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Garwood, TX
- Destination
- Garwood, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- KDUA, 19 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 197 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5097S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.