- Date
- September 26, 1994, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Visalia, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8874QRockwell S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940926030519A
- Case key
- 28873
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 failed to maintain an adequate visual lookout and collided with power lines which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain.
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 left wing tip of the airplane collided with electrical power lines during a descending turn prior to an aerial application. The airplane descended uncontrolled, impacted the ground, and burned. The commercial pilot escaped without injury.
Factual narrative
On September 26, 1994, at 0830 Pacific daylight time, a Rockwell S2R, N8874Q, collided with electrical power lines during a descent near Visalia, California. The pilot was in a descending left turn, conducting an aerial application to a cotton field. The airplane, owned and operated by Gilbert Aviation Industries of Visalia, California, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Visalia Sequoia Field at approximately 0825.
The pilot reported in the aircraft accident report that the left wing contacted power lines. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane burst into flames on impact. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that there was approximately 5,000 square feet of impact and fire damage to the cotton field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8874Q
- Reported as
- Rockwell S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1474R
- Airframe hours
- 8,000
- Engine
- P&W R1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Gilbert Aviation Industries
- Registered owner
- Gilbert Aviation Industries
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 31, 1994 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- Q31 · CA
- Destination
- Q31 · 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8874Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.