Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Paulina, Louisiana 70763
Monday, August 12, 1991 13:42 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW HIS FIRST PASS OF THE SWATH RUN FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH AND TURNED FOR HIS SECOND PASS. DURING THE SECOND PASS, THE PILOT SPOTTED WIRES STRUNG ACROSS THE FIELD AT ABOUT THE MID-POINT AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THEM. THE WIRES CAUGHT ON THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT IMPACTED IN THE SUGAR CANE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD SPRAYED THAT FIELD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HE WAS AWARE OF THE WIRES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR THE WIRES AND HIS MISJUDGING CLEARANCE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THE WIRES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1342
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PAULINA
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70763
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1588
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45240
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3493J
NTSB Number FTW91LA145
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T188C
Aircraft Series Identifier T188C
Aircraft Serial Number T18803645T
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
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 Feb 7 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 389
Airframe Hours 3331
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GULF AIRE ENTERPRISES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1222
Aircraft Owner City THIBODAUX
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70302
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GULF AIRE ENTERPRISES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1222
Operator City THIBODAUX
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70302
Operator Code
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 No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City VACHERIE
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --