- Date
- June 16, 1982, 08:02 local (15:02 UTC)
- Place
- Firebaugh, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4218XRockwell Intl. S-2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820616022459A
- Case key
- 70679
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The pilot was spreading fertilizer over a field and maneuvering over "high tension lines." No problems were encountered during previous flights earlier that day. The pilot had picked up another load which he reported was probably too much. He reported that after entering the field, he started to go over the lines, but the aircraft just was not climbing well. Prior to contact with the wire he attempted to dump the load. He believed that the tailwheel caught one of the wires and that the aircraft stalled and fell beyond the wires.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4218X
- Reported as
- Rockwell Intl. S-2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1977R
- Airframe hours
- 5,255
- Engine
- P & W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Tri Air Inc.
- Registered owner
- Tri Air Inc.
- Departed
- Firebaugh, CA
- Destination
- Firebaugh, CA
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
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,800 total · 2,800 in this make and model · 3,700 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 167 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.