Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the transmission wires.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
A commercial pilot collided with high tension power lines while on his last aerial application pass of a 160 acre cotton field. The outer portion of the right wing and a section of the empennage separated from the airframe; however, the pilot was able to fly to a nearby airport without further incident.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 11, 1995, at 0830 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R- T34, N3095W, was substantially damaged upon impact with wires while maneuvering near Lake City, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated on an aerial application flight by Needhem Flying Service Inc., under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. According to the Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) inspector, the airplane impacted high tension power lines while on an aerial application flight. The outer portion of the right wing and a section of the empennage separated from the airframe; however, the pilot was able to fly to a nearby airport without further incident. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had flown under, over, and around the power lines and its supporting towers several times while spraying his assigned 160 acres of cotton. During his last pass, which he termed "his clean up pass", he collided with the wires. There were no reported eyewitnesses to this accident. Numerous attempts by the investigator-in-charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report from either the pilot or the operator were unsuccessful. -