# NTSB CEN13LA444: Eagle DW-1, N8803Z, Eagle Lake, MN, July 29, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2013, 08:10 local (13:10 UTC) - Place: Eagle Lake, MN - Coordinates: 44.156112, -93.87722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1561&lon=-93.8772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA444 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87603/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87603 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA444 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of tree heights, which resulted in the collision with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had just finished an aerial application pass over a field. As he pulled up, he misjudged the height of nearby trees and struck the top of one of the trees. He was able to fly the airplane to a nearby airport, where he landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed forward and aft spar damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2013, about 0810 central daylight time, an Eagle DW-1, N8803Z, struck trees while engaged in aerial application southeast of Eagle Lake, Minnesota. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual in Arizona, and operated by ASI Jet Ag, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Waseca (ACQ), Minnesota, about 0750.According to the pilot's accident report, he pulled up (as he had on previous passes) to avoid a treeline on the south edge of the field. He noticed he was getting too close to the tallest tree and he applied full power and pulled maximum elevator deflection. The airplane clipped the top of the tree with its right wing and yawed to the right. He proceeded to Mankato and landed without incident. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he had just finished the fourth pass over a field. As he pulled up, he misjudged the height of nearby trees and struck the top of one of the trees. The pilot was able to fly the airplane to nearby Mankato (MKT), Minnesota, and land without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed forward and aft spar damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8803Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8803Z), registered now, S/N DW-1-0026-81 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EAGLE DW-1 - Registry model: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-eagle-dw-1) (registry code 3230203) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DW-1-0026-81 - Airframe hours: 4845 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: ASI Jet Ag, LLC - Registered owner: Stephen M. Hohl - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2012, 39 hours before - Departed: ACQ, Waseca, MN - Destination: MKT, Mankato, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 684 total, 66 in this make and model, 619 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KACQ, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130729013419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130729013419A), Jul 29, 2013: Eagle Aircraft Co EAGLE DW-1, Eagle Lake, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was treating a field near Eagle Lake, MN. Field was being treated north to south. On the 4th pass, the pilot reported that he pulled up to finish the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87603. 22.0 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 22.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398486&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.