CEN22LA335

The pilot had made multiple aerial application flights before the accident flight. Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane made multiple passes over the field north of the tower, which was located in the field. During the final pass over the field, the airplane turned north toward the western guy wires. The airplane struck the guy wires and impacted the terrain north of the tower. The operator’s representative stated that the pilot had been briefed about the field’s obstructions, specifically the location of the tower and its guy wires located in the intended field to be sprayed with fungicide. He stated that the pilot had previously flown over the field more than once. The airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire and impact forces, which prevented confirmation of flight control continuity. The propeller displayed S-shaped bending consistent with power generation. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation were noted. Toxicology testing revealed that the pilot had used cannabis. The psychoactive compounds delta-9-THC and delta-8-THC were detected in his heart blood at low concentrations. THC can decrease vigilance and has effects for several hours. However, because of the fat storage and slow release of THC, low concentrations in blood can reflect use several days ago. How recent or frequent the pilot’s use of cannabis was unknown, as was the type of product. Given these unknowns, while the pilot was found to have cannabis in his system, it could not be determined if the concentration would have been impairing and influenced his vigilance about avoiding the antenna hazard.

On July 23, 2022, at 0912 central daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, N4046S, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Parkin, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The operator reported that the pilot arrived at work about 0600 and began flying about 0630-0645 and flew multiple flights before the accident. ADS-B data showed that the airplane made multiple passes over the field north of the tower, which was located in the field. During the final pass over the field, the airplane turned north toward the western guy wires. The airplane struck the guy wires and impacted the terrain north of the tower. The operator’s representative stated they talked “a lot” about the field’s obstructions and referenced a map during the discussion. The discussion specifically included the location of the tower and its guy wires located in the intended field to be sprayed with fungicide. They talked about the guy wires at length. The operator’s representative stated that the pilot had previously flown over the field more than once. The operator did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. At the pilot’s most recent FAA medical certification examination on January 21, 2022, he reported taking no medications or having any medical conditions. According to the autopsy report, the pilot’s cause of death was multiple injuries, and the manner of death was accident. No significant natural disease was identified. Toxicology testing detected delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol (delta-9-THC) in the pilot’s heart blood at 1.7 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and in his urine at 1.4 ng/mL. 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (11-OH-delta-9-THC) was detected in his urine at 16.4 ng/mL, but not in his heart blood. Carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC-COOH) was detected in his heart blood at 7.4 ng/mL and in his urine at 40 ng/mL. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC) was detected in the pilot’s heart blood at 3.3 ng/mL and in his urine at 0.8 ng/mL. Carboxy-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC-COOH) was detected in his heart blood at 15.3 ng/mL and in his urine at 120.7 ng/mL. The airplane main wreckage was located about 200 ft north of the tower. Three of the tower’s four guy wires exhibited shear separation and were pulled in the direction and resting near the main wreckage. The right wing displayed features consistent with the guy wire ripping through the wing structure. The airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire and impact forces. The wings and tail section were not consumed by fire. Due to the accident damage, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors were unable to confirm flight control continuity. The propeller displayed S-shaped bending consistent with power generation. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation were reported.