SEA00LA043

The aircraft was on an agricultural aerial application flight. The pilot reported that the aircraft impacted the ground 'after hooking [and] entangling a barbed wire fence', that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident, and that the accident could have been prevented by 'Fly[ing] higher.'

On February 7, 2000, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell International S-2R agricultural aircraft, N7780V, being operated by Faunce Ag Air of Spokane, Washington, on a 14 CFR 137 agricultural aerial application flight, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence wire and subsequently impacted terrain near Kahlotus, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command of the single-seat aircraft received minor injuries in the accident. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight departed Kahlotus approximately 1400.

The pilot reported that the airplane impacted on its nose "after hooking [and] entangling a barbed wire fence." He indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved, and also indicated in the operator/owner safety recommendation section of his NTSB accident report that the accident could have been prevented by "Fly[ing] higher." The pilot reported that skies were clear and that visibility at the time was 20 miles, with calm winds and no turbulence.