# NTSB FTW95LA347: Ayres S2R-T34, N3095W, Lake City, AR, August 11, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1995, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Lake City, AR
- Coordinates: 35.809089, -90.440956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8091&lon=-90.4410&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA347
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA347

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - object - wire,transmission (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A COMMERCIAL PILOT COLLIDED WITH HIGH TENSION POWER LINES WHILE ON HIS LAST AERIAL APPLICATION PASS OF A 160 ACRE COTTON FIELD. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING AND A SECTION OF THE EMPENNAGE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME; HOWEVER, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY TO A NEARBY AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On August 11, 1995, at 0830 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R- T34, N3095W, was substantially damaged upon impact with wires while maneuvering near Lake City, Arkansas.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  The aircraft was being operated on an aerial application flight by Needhem Flying Service Inc., under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to the Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) inspector, the airplane impacted high tension power lines while on an aerial application flight.  The outer portion of the right wing and a section of the empennage separated from the airframe; however, the pilot was able to fly to a nearby airport without further incident.

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had flown under, over, and around the power lines and its supporting towers several times while spraying his assigned 160 acres of cotton.  During his last pass, which he termed "his clean up pass", he collided with the wires.  There were no reported eyewitnesses to this accident.

Numerous attempts by the investigator-in-charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report from either the pilot or the operator were unsuccessful.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3095W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3095W-2017-09-07), registration cancelled 2017-09-07, S/N T34-119, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-T34
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T34](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t34) (registry code 0970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T34-119
- Engines: P&W PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Brenda K. Harmon
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,000 total, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19950811048589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950811048589A), Aug 11, 1995: Lakecity, AR, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot inadvertently struck power line during aerial application flight.

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.

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