- Date
- July 6, 2008, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clontarf, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5519XAero Commander S2R
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080706840709A
- Case key
- 68641
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 power transmission lines. Contributing to the accident was the power transmission lines.
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 airplane impacted power transmission lines while on an aerial application flight. The airplane impacted terrain immediately after the wire strike and was destroyed during a post accident ground fire. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to impacting the transmission lines.
Factual narrative
The airplane impacted power transmission lines while on an aerial application flight. The airplane impacted terrain immediately after the wire strike and was destroyed during a post accident ground fire. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to impacting the transmission lines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5519X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1719R
- Airframe hours
- 7,355.1
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Benson Air Ag, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2008
- Departed
- BBB · Benson, MN
- Destination
- BBB · Benson, MN
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
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 15,374 total · 1,337 in this make and model · 14,824 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.76 inHg
- Observed at
- BBB, 10 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.
Other investigations on N5519X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.