TYRONE, PA, USA
N2369N
AIR TRACTOR AT-400
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE TWO UNEVENTFUL AERIAL APPLICATION PASSES IN A VALLEY AREA WITHOUT OBSERVING ANY OBSTRUCTIONS. ON THE THIRD PASS, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWERLINES THAT HAD BEEN STRUNG FROM RIDGETOP TO RIDGETOP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED INTO A WOODED HILLSIDE AND ERUPTED WITH FIRE AFTER IMPACT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OVERFLOWN THE AREA LOOKING FOR OBSTACLES PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION. HE REPORTED THAT HE NEVER SAW THE POWERLINES BEFORE THE AIRPLANE HIT THEM.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS DURING LOW LEVEL AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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