Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tyrone, Pennsylvania 16686
Tuesady, May 8, 1990 6:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 635
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TYRONE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16686
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID AOO
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1263
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42442
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2369N
NTSB Number NYC90DGM01
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 Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR
Aircraft Model AT-400
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-400
Aircraft Serial Number 400-0416
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 May 3 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TED STALLINGS
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 517 HWY 60
Aircraft Owner City BOVINA
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79009
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AERO TECH,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code QTEG
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 7G4
Departure City NEWRY
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --