AVENAL, CA, USA
N57SK
AYRES TURBO THRUSH S2R-34
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES DURING AERIAL APPLICATION. THE ACFT HOPPER WAS INADVERTENTLY SET ON FULL OPEN FOR THE 3RD OPERATION OF THE DAY. THERE IS NO INDICATOR IN THE COCKPIT TO SHOW THE PILOT THE POSITION OF THE GATE STOP. WHEN THE PILOT OPENED THE HOPPER GATE EXPECTING IT TO OPEN HALF-WAY IT OPENED ALL THE WAY. THE ACFT BALLOONED AS A RESULT AND COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LEVEL THE ACFT BUT COULD NOT SEE BECAUSE OF MATERIAL FROM THE HOPPER ON THE WINDSHIELD AND HE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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