# NTSB GAA16CA451: Ayres S 2R, N3003N, Cordele, GA, August 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2016, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Cordele, GA - Coordinates: 31.963611, -83.782501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9636&lon=-83.7825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA451 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93906/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93906 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA451 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight while flying toward the sun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Other: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0970101), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was maneuvering at low altitude, while performing an agricultural aerial application flight. He reported that he decided to fly underneath power lines and misjudged the height of the lines in relation to the airplane. He recalled that the airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder struck the power lines. He landed the airplane in a field and the landing gear collapsed. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, reported that the pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes as he passed under the power lines. He reported that the pilot did not immediately execute a precautionary landing after striking the lines; instead he made one more spray pass. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. During the course of the investigation, the NTSB Investigator-in-charge attempted to contact the pilot on multiple occasions to no avail. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was maneuvering at low altitude, while performing an agricultural aerial application flight. He reported that he decided to fly underneath powerline wires and misjudged the height of the wires in relation to the airplane. He recalled that the airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder struck the powerline wires. He landed the airplane in a field and the landing gear collapsed. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, reported that the pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes as he passed under the powerline wires. He reported that the pilot did not immediately execute a precautionary landing after striking the wires; instead he made one more spray pass. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. During the course of the investigation, the NTSB Investigator-in-charge attempted to contact the pilot on multiple occasions to no avail. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3003N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3003N), registered now, S/N 2584R, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES CORPORATION S 2R (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Ayres S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s-2r) (registry code 0970101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2584R - Year built: 1995 - Engines: Pratt Whitney PT 6 A 34AG 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Cordele, GA - Destination: Cordele, GA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; seat: single; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KACJ, 23 nm away ## 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 20160825014329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160825014329A), Aug 25, 2016: Ayres Corporation S-2R, Ashburn, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot of aircraft was spraying fields in Ashburn Georgia that had power lines surrounding the area. The aircraft was traveling west to east and clipped the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93906. 197 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.