# NTSB LAX01LA078: Ayres S2R-T34, N8927Q, Holtville, CA, January 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2001 - Place: Holtville, CA - Coordinates: 32.82949, -115.190055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8295&lon=-115.1901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FLT STANDARDS DIST OFC - NTSB case key (mKey): 51357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51357/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## 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 - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane was engaged in a series of aerial application passes over a crop field when it struck a set of utility lines on a pass from the west. The pilot was unaware of a second, lower set of lines located just beneath the first. The pilot lost control of the airplane and it descended to the field. The airplane is configured to seat only the pilot; however, an unrestrained passenger was also aboard. The passenger was ejected during the impact sequence. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2001, at 1542 Pacific standard time, an Ayres S2R-T34, N8927Q, collided with utility lines and crashed in an agricultural field near Holtville, California. The commercial pilot received minor injuries while the unseated passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was being operated as an agricultural application flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The local flight originated from the Stoker Company agricultural strip in Imperial, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot told Imperial County Sheriff's Department deputies that he was spraying a carrot field. As he approached the field from the west, the pilot flew under the utility lines that ran along Meloland Road but hit the second and lower set of lines. He was not aware of this set of utility lines and [just] heard a loud noise, lost control of the airplane, and impacted the ground in the center of the field. The unrestrained passenger was ejected from the cockpit. Deputies had found the lower set of utility lines broken. The upper section of the vertical stabilizer had been separated from the airplane. A post crash investigation revealed that the passenger was a maintenance employee with the company. The airplane was configured to accommodate a single pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8927Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8927Q-2001-07-10), registration cancelled 2001-07-10, S/N 2442R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-T34 - Registry model: [Ayres S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s-2r) (registry code 0970101) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2442R - Airframe hours: 14262 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Stoker Company - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 2001, 0 hours before - Departed: IPL, Holtville, CA - Airport: N/A, Stoker Company Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review March 29, 2000; seat: center; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: IPL, 3 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 20010118000829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010118000829A), Jan 18, 2001: Ayres S2R, Holtville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) This local flight originated from the stoker company agricultural airstrip in imperial, CA., in VMC conditions at 1530 hours. Pilot was spraying in a… 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.