- Date
- May 21, 2009, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place
- Bald Eagle, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6134TAyres S2R-G1
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090521009929A
- Case key
- 73878
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 power line.
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
While preparing for an aerial agricultural application, the pilot flew over the intended application area twice while setting the global positioning system (GPS). After descending to approximately 50 feet above trees, the pilot began the application process, and was monitoring the GPS, when the airplane's right wing struck a power line. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the wings, tail, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The winds reported at an airport 30 miles to the east of the accident location were calm. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Factual narrative
While preparing for an agricultural aerial application, the pilot flew over the intended application area twice while setting the global positioning system (GPS). After descending to the correct spray altitude, “approximately 50 feet above trees,” the pilot began the application process, and was monitoring the GPS, when the airplane's right wing struck a power line. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the wings, tail, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The winds reported at an airport 30 miles to the east of the accident location were calm. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6134T
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-G1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- G1-103
- Airframe hours
- 3,698
- Engine
- Airesearch TPE331 SERIES, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 6, 2009
- Departed
- KLHV · Lock Haven, PA
- Destination
- KLHV · Lock Haven, PA
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
- 54
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 14, 2009
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 4,800 total · 974 in this make and model · 4,711 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
- Observed at
- IPT
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.