Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission lines during an aerial application run.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was performing an aerial application flight in a field that had a set of power lines located in it. During the last pass of the application run, the airplane collided with the power lines and subsequently impacted terrain, coming to rest on a set of railroad tracks.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 14, 2009, approximately 1420 central daylight time, an Ayres S-2R single-engine agricultural airplane, N223SB, was substantially damaged when it collided with power lines and impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Monroe, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Brooks Flying Service Inc., Calhoun, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot stated that he was performing an aerial application flight and during the last pass struck a set of power lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest on a set of railroad tracks.