- Date
- October 11, 2019, 13:21 UTC
- Place
- Willacoochee, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3090CAyres S2R
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20191011021119A
- Case key
- 100425
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 power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
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
The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, as he circled the field to realign the airplane with it, the airplane struck power lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a wooded area next to the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, as he circled the field to realign the airplane with the cotton field, the airplane struck power lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a wooded area next to the cotton field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3090C
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R (T34)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T34-075DC
- Built
- 1983
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Souther Crop Spraying Inc
- Registered owner
- Souther Crop Spraying Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 73
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KDQH, 9 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 4, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 383 KB 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.
Other investigations on N3090C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.