Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the agricultural airplane had been flying under a power line with no difficulty on his previous spray runs in the sugar cane field. On this run, as he approached the field, the pilot realized the power line wire 'sagged lower than in the other places.' He considered climbing over the wire, but was not sure he would clear it, so he elected to continue under the wire. After passing under the wire, the airplane's main wheels contacted the sugar cane, and the airplane decelerated and impacted the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 12, 1997, at 1000 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-402 agricultural airplane, N90PK, registered to and operated by Aerial Crop Care, Inc., of Port Barre, Louisiana, collided with terrain during an aerial application flight near Patterson, Louisiana. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 local flight that originated from Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport in Patterson at 0945. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge that he had been flying under a power line with no difficulty on his previous spray runs in the sugar cane field. On this run, as he approached the field, the pilot realized the power line wire "sagged lower than in the other places." He considered climbing over the wire, but was not sure he would clear it, so he elected to continue under the wire. After passing under the wire, the airplane's main wheels contacted the sugar cane, and the airplane decelerated and impacted the ground. According to the operator, the left main landing gear separated, and the empennage and left wing sustained structural damage. The fuselage aft of the cockpit was twisted; however, the cockpit remained "completely intact." -