Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid a guy wire along the border of a field that was being agriculturally treated. The sunglare, guy wire, and lack of visual cues were related factors.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was flying at a low altitude dropping beneficial insects on a field of vines. He stated that PG&E had installed a guy wire since the last time that he had worked the field. The pilot was flying into the early morning rising sun, and the airplane collided with the wire across the windshield.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 21, 1996, at 0900 hours Pacific daylight time an Aeronca, 7AC, N2456E, was substantially damaged during a collision with a wire while on an aerial application flight near Lamont, California. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the agricultural operation. The flight originated at Caruthers, California, on the morning of the accident. In the pilot's report to the Safety Board he stated that he was flying east into the morning's rising sun and did not see the guy wire. He said the wire had been installed by PG&E since the last time he had worked the field. The wire was reported to be about 15 feet above ground level. -