- Date
- July 22, 1983, 18:00 local (Jul 23, 1983, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Avenal, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N57SKAyres Turbo Thrush S2R-34
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830722039629A
- Case key
- 23795
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 acft collided with wires during aerial application. The acft hopper was inadvertently set on full open for the 3rd operation of the day. There is no indicator in the cockpit to show the pilot the position of the gate stop. When the pilot opened the hopper gate expecting it to open half-way it opened all the way. The acft ballooned as a result and collided with the wires. The pilot was able to level the acft but could not see because of material from the hopper on the windshield and he collided with the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N57SK
- Reported as
- Ayres Turbo Thrush S2R-34 (TURBO THRU)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- SNT 34-007
- Airframe hours
- 2,037
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Super Kat Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 9, 1983 · 43 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,921 total · 2,202 in this make and model · 5,821 as pilot in command · 400 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.