- Date
- March 2, 2017, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Fairmont, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1755SAero Commander S2R
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20170302001949A
- Case key
- 94825
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 a power line while conducting agricultural spray operations.
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
The pilot stated that he was conducting spray operations to a pasture with power lines on its north border. As the pilot approached the pasture from the north on his fourth pass, he intended to descend after flying past the second of two cables. The pilot initiated a descent, but the airplane struck the second cable. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and a postimpact fire ensued. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he misidentified the first cable as the second cable.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated he was conducting spray operations to a pasture with power lines on its north border. As the pilot approached the pasture from the north on his fourth pass, he intended to descend after flying past the second of two cables. The pilot initiated a descent, but the airplane struck the second cable. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and a post impact fire ensued. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he misidentified the first cable as the second cable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1755S
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1455R
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 8,123
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney R1340-53H1-G, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Carson Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Carson Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 2, 2017
- Departed
- PRI · Breckenridge, OK
- Destination
- PRI · Breckenridge, OK
- Equipment
- None
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
- 69
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- April 15, 2016
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 17,036 total · 9,406 in this make and model · 16,949 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.40 inHg
- Observed at
- KWDG, 4 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 794 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.