- Date
- August 8, 1996, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fargo, ND
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1282WWeatherly 201B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960808021549A
- Case key
- 10345
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 a wire, while crossing under a transmission line. The proximity of wires to the work area was a related 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 pilot reported that during a swath run, he was 'going under a wire . . . the rudder caught the neutral cable and rendered my elevator and rudder ineffective.' He reduced power, and the airplane banked left and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported that there was 'nothing wrong' with the airplane before the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed evidence of a wire strike on the vertical stabilizer.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1996, at 0715 central daylight time, Weatherly 201B, N1282W, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a wire near Fargo, North Dakota. The commercial pilot reported no anomalies prior to the accident. He reported no injury. The local, 14 CFR Part 137, aerial application flight originated about 0715. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he was making an aerial application swathe run. He was "going under a wire...the rudder caught the neutral cable and rendered my elevator and rudder ineffective." He reduced power, the airplane banked left and impacted the terrain. He reported that there was "nothing wrong" with the airplane prior to the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who examined the wreckage reported that the vertical stabilizer exhibited evidence of impact with a wire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1282W
- Reported as
- Weatherly 201B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 636
- Engine
- P&W R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- David R. Gust
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 27, 1996 · 140 hours before
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,750 total · 575 in this make and model · 3,650 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.