# NTSB WPR11LA179: Eagle DW1, N8812A, Newman, CA, April 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2011, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Newman, CA - Coordinates: 37.316665, -121.01667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3167&lon=-121.0167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78732 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78732/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78732 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a vehicle during a low-altitude operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was applying his fifth aerial application load of the day over a field that was split by power lines about 35 to 40 feet above ground level next to a road. The pilot had been flying under the lines unless a power pole obstructed the airplane’s flight path or he observed traffic on the road, which was fairly busy. As the airplane approached the road, the pilot noticed a propane truck at the last second that was approaching the airplane’s flight path from the right. He tried to adjust but did not clear the top of the truck; the impact separated the left main landing gear from the airplane. The pilot was able to maintain control, so he returned to his nearby home dirt strip. During the abrupt deceleration due to the separated landing gear, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both lower wings. The driver of the propane truck was not injured. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2011, about 1020 Pacific daylight time, an Eagle DW-1, N8812A, collided with a propane truck near Newman, California. West Side Aerial Applications LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both lower wings from impact forces. The local aerial application flight departed a private dirt strip near Newman about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he was applying his fifth load of the day, and was on the third pass of that load. He was flying over the field, and approaching power lines and a road that split the field. He normally flew about 3 feet above the crop, which was 3-foot-tall wheat. The power lines were about 35 to 40 feet above ground level (agl). He had been flying under the lines unless a power pole obstructed the airplane’s flight path, or he observed traffic on the road, which was fairly busy. As the airplane approached the road, the pilot noticed a propane truck at the last second that was approaching his flight path from his right to left. He tried to adjust, but could not clear the truck. The left main landing gear separated after it collided with the top of the truck. The pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane, so he returned to his nearby home dirt strip. The pilot chose to land the airplane in the soft dirt next to the strip, and was not wearing his shoulder harness. During the abrupt deceleration due to the separated landing gear, his head was thrown forward into the instrument panel, which knocked him unconscious. He was wearing a helmet, but sustained serious injuries to his head. The driver of the propane truck was not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8812A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8812A-2019-09-05), registration cancelled 2019-09-05, S/N DW-1-0072-82, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EAGLE DW1 - Registry model: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-eagle-dw-1) (registry code 3230203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DW-1-0072-82 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 Series reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: West Side Aerial Application LLC - Registered owner: West Side Aerial Application LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: None, Newman, CA - Destination: None, Newman, CA - Airport: None, Private Dirt Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 7,500 total, 4,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KMOD, 19 nm away ## 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 20110401006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110401006599A), Apr 1, 2011: Eagle Aircraft Co EAGLE DW-1, Newman, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck top of propane truck while crossing a road and flying under wires in conjunction with spraying a field that was crossed by said road/wires. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78732. 467 KB in all. - FAA Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 457 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - FAA Pilot Info (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Pilot%20Info-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.