SEA95LA191

While making an agricultural aerial application pass on a field on a heading of approximately 160 degrees, the airplane struck a 40-foot north-south power line on the west edge of the field. The pilot subsequently lost control of the airplane, which then crashed into the field. The pilot reported that he had never seen the wire 'even at the time of ground recon.'

On August 23, 1995, approximately 0920 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Schweizer G-164, N146KY, being operated by Taylor Aviation, Inc., struck wires during an aerial application spray run in a field near Nyssa, Oregon. Following the wire strike, the pilot lost control of the airplane, which received substantial damage when it subsequently impacted terrain. The commercial pilot of the single-seat airplane was not injured. The airplane was on a local flight originating from a private airstrip near Emmett, Idaho, operating under 14 CFR 137. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the FAA investigator's report of site investigation, the aircraft struck 40-foot power and carrier lines on the west side of Gray Avenue, which runs north/south on the west side of the spray area which the pilot was working. The report stated: "After striking the power lines the aircraft traveled about 100 feet before impacting the ground. The initial heading of the aircraft at impact was 160 degrees....The pilot was interviewed, and stated that 'I just did not see the wire crossing the small valley west of the field.['] He indicated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the aircraft until it came in contact with the power line." The FAA inspector's report indicated that the wire was 1/2 inch in diameter. His diagram further indicated that the aircraft crashed into the field which the pilot had been spraying. Photographs supplied with the FAA investigator's report showed downed lines suspended from wooden poles.

In his report of the accident, the pilot indicated that his "last pass was from north to south along west border. Wire was never seen even at the time of ground recon." The pilot indicated in a diagram that the wire was approximately 30 feet above the field.