# NTSB CHI07LA147: Thrush S2RHG-T65, N40097, Tyndall, SD, May 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2007, 18:16 local (23:16 UTC) - Place: Tyndall, SD - Coordinates: 43.027221, -97.867225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0272&lon=-97.8672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation AAdministration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from a powerline while maneuvering. A factor was the low visibility associated with the thunderstorm and the powerlines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis An agricultural application airplane impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering. A post impact fire occurred. The operator's accident report stated that "10-15 minutes before [the] crash eye witness reports indicate all was normal. Thunderstorms in the area developed rapidly. At [the] time of [the] crash eyewitness accounts, per Sheriff's report, were very heavy rain and some hail, 20 [feet] visibility." Examination of the wreckage revealed a section of powerline was found wrapped around the airplane's hopper. A propeller blade had a semicircular depression on its leading edge. The recorded weather about 25 miles east of the accident site was: Wind 240 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds 7,500 feet; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury; remarks lightning observed in the distant west, thunderstorm ended at 18 minutes before the accident. Low levels of an antidepressant was a finding in the pilot's toxicology report. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2007, about 1816 central daylight time, a Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2RHG-T65, N40097, operated by Mettler Aerial Inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted power lines and terrain, while maneuvering near Tyndall, South Dakota. A post impact fire occurred. The aerial application flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The local flight departed from the Turkey Ridge Airport, near Hurley, South Dakota, at time unknown. The operator's accident report stated that "10-15 minutes before [the] crash eye witness reports indicate all was normal. Thunderstorms in the area developed rapidly. At [the] time of [the] crash eyewitness accounts, per Sheriff's report, were very heavy rain and some hail, 20 [feet] visibility." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the wreckage on-scene. A section of powerline was found wrapped around the airplane's hopper. A propeller blade had a semicircular depression on its leading edge. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument ratings. He held a Second Class Medical certificate that was issued on March 27, 2007. On the application for that medical certificate, the pilot did not indicate taking any medications and listed "no" for "mental disorders of any sort; depression, anxiety, etc." The operator reported that the pilot's total flight time was 7,073 hours and that he had accumulated 315 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane. N40097, was registered as a 2004 Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2RHG-T65, serial number T65HG-01, which was a tail-wheel equipped, single-engine, low-wing, all-metal airplane, used for aerial application of agricultural products. The operator reported that the last annual inspection was performed on February 6, 2007. The total time on the airframe, at the time of the inspection, was 581 hours. The airplane was powered by a Pratt &Whitney PT6A-60AG turboprop engine, serial number PCE-BG0102. At 1815, the recorded weather about 25 nautical miles and 90 degrees from the accident site at the Chan Gurney Municipal Airport, near Yankton, South Dakota, was: Wind 240 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds 7,500 feet; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury; remarks lightning observed in the distant west, thunderstorm ended at 1758. The Bon Homme County Coroner's Office arranged for an autopsy to be performed on the pilot. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report stated: SERTRALINE detected in Blood SERTRALINE detected in Urine 0.048 (ug/mL, ug/g) DESMETHYLSERTRALINE detected in Blood DESMETHYLSERTRALINE present in Urine ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40097](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40097-2008-01-22), registration cancelled 2008-01-22, S/N T65HG-011, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2RHG-T65 - Registry model: [Thrush S2RHG-T65](https://openairdocs.org/model/thrush-s2rhg-t65) (registry code 0970222) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T65HG-011 - Airframe hours: 581 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG 1060 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Mettler Aerial Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007 - Departed: 1SD3, HURLEY, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: fatal; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,073 total, 315 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: YKN, 25 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 20070519009149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070519009149A), May 19, 2007: Ayres S2RHGT65, Tyndall, SD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft hit power lines and crashed. A post accident fire destroyed the cockpit area. The pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.… 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.