# NTSB SEA00LA043: Rockwell S-2R, N7780V, Kahlotus, WA, February 7, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Kahlotus, WA
- Coordinates: 46.660369, -118.560241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6604&lon=-118.5602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48589/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA043

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude over, or clearance with, a barbed-wire fence.  A factor was the fence.

## 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
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application

## Analysis

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.'

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7780V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7780V-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 2317R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell S-2R
- Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2317R
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Faunce Ag Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1999
- Departed: KAHLOTUS, WA
- Destination: UNKNOWN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 16,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20000207010909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000207010909A), Feb 7, 2000: Ayres S2R, Kahlotus, WA, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was completing a swath run in agricaultural applications operations. Pilot indicated that he was slipping the a/c to cover an edge…

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.

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