- Date
- May 14, 1998, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dewitt, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N393KWAyres SR2-T34
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980514009659A
- Case key
- 20603
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 proper clearance from a fixed obstacle [utility pole] while maneuvering. A factor was pilot fatigue.
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
While applying chemicals to a field the pilot was maneuvering the agricultural airplane around a power line pole when the left wing tip contacted the base of the pole. The pilot then flew the airplane back to his base of operations. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the outboard 2 1/2 feet of the left wing was torn off. The pilot had flown over 150 hours in the last 30 days, 12 hours in the last 24 hours, and about 4 hours on the morning of the accident. He stated he was fatigued.
Factual narrative
On May 14, 1998, approximately 1100 central daylight time, an Ayers SR2-T34 agricultural airplane, N393KW, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a utility pole while applying chemicals to a field near Dewitt, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, which originated from a private grass airstrip about 15 minutes prior to the accident.
In a telephone interview, the pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he was maneuvering around a utility pole when the left wing tip contacted the base of the pole. He then flew the airplane back to his base of operations. Inspection of the aircraft by a FAA inspector revealed that the outboard 2 1/2 feet of the wing was torn off.
The pilot also stated that he had flown over 150 hours in the last 30 days, and 12 hours in the last 24 hours, and about 4 hours on the morning of the accident. He also stated that he was fatigued.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N393KW
- Reported as
- Ayres SR2-T34
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T34-212
- Airframe hours
- 1,402
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Barry J. Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 16, 1998 · 108 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,879 total · 2,990 in this make and model · 400 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.