Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Visalia, California 93291
Monday, September 26, 1994 8:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ELECTRICAL POWER LINES DURING A DESCENDING TURN PRIOR TO AN AERIAL APPLICATION. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND BURNED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot failed to maintain an adequate visual lookout and collided with power lines which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VISALIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93291
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1647
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8874Q
NTSB Number LAX94LA379
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROCKWELL
Aircraft Model S2R
Aircraft Series Identifier S2R
Aircraft Serial Number 1474R
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 31 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 8000
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GILBERT AVIATION INDUSTRIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35900 ROAD 112
Aircraft Owner City VISALIA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93291
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GILBERT AVIATION INDUSTRIES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 35900 ROAD 112
Operator City VISALIA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93291
Operator Code MBVG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q31
Departure City
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 825
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code Q31
Destination City
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --