- Date
- August 10, 2011, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bronson, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9054WWeatherly 201C
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Des Moines Flight Standards
- FAA report
- 20110810017729A
- Case key
- 81463
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 clearance from terrain while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
Findings · 4
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
The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed decayed when he maneuvered to avoid some high tension power lines, while conducting an agricultural application pass. He leveled the wings and applied full engine power. The pilot turned further in an effort to avoid a populated area and toward a low point in the rising terrain. The airplane then entered a valley located between rolling hills, at which time the airplane started to sink. The airplane's right wing struck a tree and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed decayed when he maneuvered to avoid some high tension power lines while conducting an agricultural application pass. He leveled the wings and applied full engine power. The pilot turned further in an effort to avoid a populated area and toward a low point in the rising terrain. The pilot added that after exiting the agricultural field, the airplane entered a valley located between rolling hills, at which time the airplane started to sink. There was a tree that was going to be a conflict so the pilot attempted to dump the chemical load. The airplane's right wing struck the tree and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9054W
- Reported as
- Weatherly 201C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1022
- Airframe hours
- 4,837
- Engine
- P&W R-985 SERIES, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Sioux Air Inc
- Registered owner
- Sioux Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 17, 2011
- Departed
- 7K8 · S Sioux City, NE
- Destination
- 7K8 · S Sioux City, NE
- Airport
- 7K8 · Martin Field
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2011
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 30,300 total · 70 in this make and model · 29,250 as pilot in command · 102 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- SUX, 8 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 832 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 N9054W · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.