# NTSB FTW97LA029: Piper PA-36-300, N57871, Stanton, TX, September 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1996, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Stanton, TX - Coordinates: 32.119129, -101.78939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1191&lon=-101.7894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20105/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA029 ## Probable cause Pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a wire resulting in the separation of the rudder and a loss of aircraft control. ## 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,static - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,rudder - separation (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a local aerial application flight maneuver, the pilot was spraying milo and cleaning up the edge of the field when the airplane struck an electrical wire where the rudder and the vertical stabilizer meet at the leading edge and the wire cutters did not cut the wire. The upper bolt of the rudder was pulled out and the rudder was hanging by cables and the lower bolt. During the 15 mile flight to the airport, the rudder vibrated loose and separated from the aircraft. When the airplane was slowed for the landing/flare the pilot lost control of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1996, at 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-36-300, N57871, registered to and operated by Tarzan Ag Services of Tarzan, Texas, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 flight, struck a wire while maneuvering near Stanton, Texas, and the pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing/flare at the Stanton Municipal Airport. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Stanton Municipal Airport at 0900. During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot and operator reported the following information. The pilot was spraying milo and cleaning up the edge of the field when the airplane struck an electrical wire. The pilot had sprayed the field previously; however, he stated that the "wire was new." The airplane struck the wire at the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer where the upper bolt attaches the rudder and the vertical stabilizer. Wire cutters installed on the aircraft, did not cut the wire. The upper bolt of the rudder was pulled out and the rudder was hanging by the control cables and the lower bolt. During the 15 mile flight to the airport, the rudder vibrated loose and separated from the aircraft. When the airplane was slowed for the landing/flare the pilot lost control of the airplane and it veered to the left of runway 16. The accident was not reported by the operator or the pilot until after the FAA inspector discovered the airplane during his normal surveillance of the operator. Structural damage was found at the rudder and rudder attachment point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57871](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57871-2012-09-20), registration cancelled 2012-09-20, S/N 36-7760036, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-36-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-300) (registry code 7103612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7760036 - Airframe hours: 3374 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Don H. Mcmorries - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1996, 66 hours before - Airport: 63F, Stanton Municipal, runway 16, 4,299 × 69 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 16,861 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19960908045169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908045169A), Sep 8, 1996: Piper PA36300, Stanton, TX, Substantial damage. Struck wire spraying edge of milo field. Lost rudder and control landing on airport. Structural empannage damage. 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.