- Date
- August 19, 2003, 07:55 local (11:55 UTC)
- Place
- Breckenridge, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N23EGAyres S2R-G6
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Grand Rapids-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030819022729A
- Case key
- 57752
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 the powerlines during the aerial application pass rendering the airplane uncontrollable. The powerlines were a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the terrain after striking a powerline during an aerial application flight. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane initiate a pass at the field being sprayed. The witnesses reported that airplane struck the bottom wire of a set of powerlines that ran through the field. The witnesses reported seeing a part of the airplane come off when the airplane hit the wire. A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder had been torn from the airplane. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were found near the powerlines. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the airplane, it's engine, or systems.
Factual narrative
On August 19, 2003, at 0755 eastern daylight time, an Ayres S2R-G6, N23EG, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain after striking a powerline near Breckenridge, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Wheeler, Michigan, at 0715.
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane initiate a south to north pass at the field being sprayed. The witnesses reported that airplane struck the bottom wire of a set of powerlines that ran through the field. The witnesses reported seeing a part of the airplane come off when the airplane hit the wire.
A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder had been torn from the airplane. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were found near the powerlines. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the airplane, it's engine, or systems.
The pilot of the airplane initially survived the accident, however, he perished while en-route to the hospital.
An autopsy was performed on behalf of the Saginaw County Medical Examiner's Office, on August 21, 2003.
A "Final Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report" listed 0.091 ug/ml Chlorpheniramine detected in the blood. Chlorpheniramine is an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine commonly used for cold and allergy symptoms.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23EG
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-G6
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- G6-135
- Airframe hours
- 3,224
- Engine
- Airesearch TPE331-6, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Gorsuch, Earl M
- Registered owner
- Earls Spray Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2002 · 343 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Wheeler, MI
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
- 58
- Injuries
- Fatal
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2001
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 10,150 total · 120 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- MBS, 20 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.