Altus, OK, USA
N23736
Air Tractor AT-301
The agricultural pilot was spraying malathion to a field and was attempting to fly the airplane between electrical wires when the vertical stabilizer contacted the electrical wires. A section of the vertical stabilizer and rudder separated from the airplane. During the ensuing forced landing to a wheat field the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted.
On September 14, 2002, at 1300 central daylight time an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N23736, was substantially damaged when it collided with a power line while maneuvering near Altus, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by Jackson County Spraying Service, Inc., of Altus, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated at 0700 from the Olustee Municipal Airport, Altus, Oklahoma. According to the pilot, he was spraying malathion to a field and was attempting to fly between electrical wires when the vertical stabilizer contacted electrical wires. A section of the vertical stabilizer and rudder separated from the airplane. During the ensuing forced landing to a wheat field the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted.
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with electrical wires while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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