- Date
- May 22, 2020, 19:00 local (May 23, 2020, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Artois, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5573XAyres S 2R
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20200523007169A
- Case key
- 101321
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's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a go-around.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that, as he was landing, the airplane started to drift into nearby power lines. He initiated a go around; however, the left wing caught the power lines. The airplane impacted the ground and tumbled several times before it came to rest inverted. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In a follow-up written statement, the pilot reported that during the landing on a dirt airstrip, the right-side brake failed due to a ruptured brake line. During the aborted landing, the airplane hit a power pole and wires. During the initial interview and report of no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane, the airplane was released to the owner and the brake system was not examined.
Factual narrative
During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that, as he was landing, the airplane started to drift into nearby power lines. He initiated a go around; however, the left wing caught the power lines. The airplane impacted the ground and tumbled several times before it came to rest inverted. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In a follow-up written statement, the pilot reported that during the landing on a dirt airstrip, the right-side brake failed due to a ruptured brake line. During the aborted landing, the airplane hit a power pole and wires. During the initial interview and report of no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane, the airplane was released to the owner and the brake system was not examined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5573X
- Reported as
- Ayres S 2R (Undesignat)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5083R
- Built
- 1975
- Engine
- Wright C7BA SERIES, 800 horsepower
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Marysville, 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
- 68
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2020
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 11,500 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 11,500 as pilot in command · 126.8 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 835 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.