CHI03LA134

The aircraft was substantially damaged following an in-flight collision with wires and, subsequently, the terrain during an aerial application pass. The pilot reported he got too close to a set of wires and they caught the wing. He stated that this collision took him over another set of wires and he subsequently impacted the ground. He reported no malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.

On May 23, 2003, approximately 1900 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620A, N4650W, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with wires and terrain while conducting an aerial application near Melville, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed from Carrington Municipal Airport (46D), Carrington, North Dakota, for the local flight.

The pilot's written statement noted: "I knew the wires were there because I had been pulling up over them. The second pass I got too close ... and caught the wing in the wires." He reported that the collision took him over another set of wires and the aircraft subsequently impacted the ground in a wings level attitude.

The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector on-scene reported that the aircraft's right wing was entangled in a wire. He estimated the height of the wires as 50 feet above ground level.