Cessna A188B, N5850G, Taylors Flying Service: Fatal accident occurred August 27, 2014 in Middleton, Tennessee

JAMES E. TAYLOR: http://registry.faa.gov/N5850G

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA409 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 27, 2014 in Middleton, TN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/22/2015
Aircraft: CESSNA A188B, registration: N5850G
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot was applying chemicals to a soybean field when the airplane struck power lines about 20 ft above the ground. The outboard half of the right wing was severed from the impact with the wires, and the airplane crashed north of the power lines. Data from a handheld GPS recovered at the accident site revealed that the airplane was in level flight, at low altitude, and on a northerly heading when it impacted the wires. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting anomaly or malfunction. The propeller blades exhibited signatures consistent with power at the time of impact, and several tree limbs were found along the debris field with smooth, 45-degree cuts. Toxicology testing on the pilot revealed that he was taking medications for hypertension and edema. The pilot had not reported these conditions to the Federal Aviation Administration; however, the autopsy report revealed no evidence of a heart attack or any other incapacitating event. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during a low-level aerial application operation.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 27, 2014, about 0850 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N5850G, collided with high voltage power lines and terrain during aerial application operations near Middleton, Tennessee. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 by the pilot. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Bolivar, Tennessee (M08) at 0724.

Reportedly, the pilot was in the process of applying chemical to a soybean field when the accident occurred. There were no witnesses to the accident. The airplane struck high voltage power lines that were about 20 feet above the ground, severing about one-half of the right wing. The airplane then collided with the ground and came to rest in a wooded area adjacent to the field.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 73, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane, single engine land ratings. He reported 5,370 hours of total flight time on his latest FAA second class medical certificate application, dated June 12, 2014. His pilot logbooks were not located after the accident.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane was a Cessna A188B model that was manufactured in 1973. The low-wing, fixed landing gear, tailwheel-equipped airplane was fitted with a Continental IO-520-FcD engine rated at 285 horsepower at 2,700 rpm. The engine was equipped with a McCauley D2A34C two bladed, constant speed propeller.

The airplane was owned by the pilot. The airframe and engine maintenance records were not located after the accident. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic, performed the maintenance on the airplane.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, Jackson, Tennessee was located about 25 nautical miles (nm) north of the accident site. The airport elevation was about 434 feet msl. The 0853 surface weather observation (about 2 minutes after the accident) included a clear sky, wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles or greater, temperature 26 degrees C, dew point 22 degrees C, and altimeter setting 30.10 inches of mercury.

FLIGHT RECORDERS

A Garmin GPSMAP 76 hand-portable GPS unit was recovered from the wreckage. The outer case exhibited minor damage. The unit was forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for examination and data download. The data extracted without difficulty and included 16 sessions from August 23, 2014 through September 2, 2014. The accident flight was recorded starting 12:24:47 UTC and ending at 13:51:09 UTC on August 27, 2014. The device remained at the crash location and continued recording from 13:51:09 UTC to 03:22:12 UTC on August 28, 2014. Data parameters provided by the GPS device included date, time, latitude, longitude, and GPS Altitude.

According to the data, the flight departed the M08 at approximately 0724. The airplane flew multiple passes on a field to the west of the accident site. The airplane was then observed in level flight on a northerly heading at 0850:34, when it crossed the east-west power line at 111 knots ground speed and about 472 feet GPS altitude. The ground elevation at the location of the power line was about 363 feet. Due to the battery on the GPS unit, the data recording may have continued after the accident event.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane struck high voltage power lines at coordinates 35°10'57.16"N, 088°53'45.38"W. The severed outboard half of the right wing was found on the ground below the power lines. The wreckage debris path was oriented on a 030 degree heading and was about 285 feet in length. The debris path ended with the engine and propeller. The engine broke free of its mounts during the impact sequence and came to rest about 70 to 80 feet beyond the main wreckage. Several tree limbs were found along the debris field with smooth, 45-degree cuts.

Flight control cable continuity was established for the elevators and rudder, and for the ailerons through multiple cable separations consistent with overload. The elevator trim indicator was near full nose up. The flap handle was found in the retracted position.

The fuel tank was breached. It contained blue-colored fuel that tested negative for water contamination.

Impact damage was observed on the engine, most notably to the front and bottom sides. All six cylinders remained attached to the case. Both left and right magnetos remained attached to the case. They were removed and examined. When spun by hand, both impulse couplings operated normally and a spark was noted on all posts. Examination of the spark plugs revealed normal wear and deposits when compared to a Champion inspection chart.

The fuel pump exhibited impact damage. It was removed from the engine and examined. The drive coupling was intact and the pump drive operated normally when rotated by hand. All fuel injectors remained installed in their respective cylinders. When removed and examined, no blockages were found. Other than impact damage, no anomalies were noted with the throttle body metering unit and the fuel manifold valve.

The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand and compression and suction was observed on all 6 cylinders. Internal engine continuity was confirmed. Valve, rocker arm, and connecting rod operation was normal. Internal examination of the cylinders with a borescope revealed normal operating signatures.

The propeller remained attached to the propeller flange and the flange remained attached to the crankshaft. Both blades remained attached to the hub. One of the blades displayed twisting deformation and polishing of the leading edge and tip. The other blade was bent aft, twisted, and exhibited gouges in the training edge.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

A postmortem examination of the pilot was performed at the Office of the Medical Examiner, West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, Memphis, Tennessee on August 28, 2014. The autopsy report noted the cause of death as "Multiple blunt force injuries" and the manner of death was "Accident."

Autopsy found evidence of moderate coronary atherosclerosis with right dominant pattern with atherosclerotic narrowing of 50-60% in the left anterior descending coronary artery and 50% in the right coronary artery. There was no fresh clot or evidence of an old or a recent heart attack. There was diffuse atherosclerosis in the blood vessels of the
brain, but again with no significant acute findings.

Forensic toxicology testing was performed on specimens of the pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The CAMI toxicology report indicated negative for carbon monoxide in the blood and ethanol in the urine. Testing for cyanide was not performed. Amlodipine was detected in the liver, blood, and urine. Hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene were detected in the urine and blood.

Triamterene (Dyrenium®) is a potassium-sparing diuretic used in combination with thiazide (hydrochlorothiazide) diuretics for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and edema. Hydrochlorothiazide (multiple brand names) is a commonly used diuretic for blood pressure control. Amlodipne (multiple brand names) is a calcium channel blocker used alone or in combination with other medications to control hypertension. According to the FAA, these medications would not necessarily be considered hazards; however, they must be disclosed and an appropriate hypertension workup submitted to the FAA. The pilot did not declare any medications on his latest FAA medical certificate application.

Flight Standards District Office: FAA Memphis FSDO-21

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA409 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 27, 2014 in Middleton, TN
Aircraft: CESSNA A188B, registration: N5850G
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 27, 2014, about 0850 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N5850G, collided with power lines and terrain during aerial application operations near Middleton, Tennessee. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 by the pilot. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Bolivar, Tennessee (M08) at 0837.

Reportedly, the pilot was in the process of applying chemical to a soybean field when the accident occurred. There were no witnesses to the accident. The accident site was found near an open farm field. The airplane struck high voltage power lines that were about 100 feet above the ground, severing one-half of the right wing. The airplane then collided with the ground and came to rest in a wooded area adjacent to the field. The engine broke free of its mounts during the impact sequence and came to rest about 70 to 80 feet beyond the main wreckage.

The pilot, age 73, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane, single engine land privileges. He reported 5,370 hours of total flight time on his latest FAA second class medical certificate application, dated June 12, 2014.

James “J.T.” Taylor, an experienced agricultural pilot, was killed Wednesday when his crop duster hit a power line and crashed while he was working over a field in Middleton.

James Edward “J.T.” Taylor

Mr. James Edward "J.T." Taylor of Somerville, Tennessee departed this life Wednesday, August 27, 2014 in a crop dusting accident at the age of 73 years and 10 months.

A lifelong resident of the Somerville area, Mr. Taylor was born Sunday, October 27, 1940 to the late Andrew and Niecie Clark Taylor. He graduated with the Class of 1958 from Somerville High School and served in the Tennessee National Guard for eight years. On July 11, 1997, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Joyce Taylor, who survives. He worked as a cropduster for 44 years, and owned & operated James and Joyce Taylor Flying Service. He was also a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic.

He was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he played guitar. He also volunteered with his band at NHC and Bluegrass Village, and sang and played music at Open Mic Night on the square in Bolivar. Among his hobbies, he was a fur taker, enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing and trapping, and was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

In addition to his wife of 17 years, Mr. Taylor is survived by his daughters, Sherri Brown and husband Art of Bolivar, Edith Mallett and husband Tony of Whiteville, and Jamie McAfee of Atoka; sons, James Taylor, Jr. and wife Tinna of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Robert Taylor and wife Mallorie of Jackson, Wade Thurmond and wife Jennifer of Medon, and Joey Thurmond and wife Holly of Hickory Valley; brother, Leonard Taylor of Moscow; thirteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Donations made in memory of Mr. Taylor may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate), LeBonheur Children's Hospital (www.lebonheur.org/ways-to-help/donate-now), The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/donate) or to the donor's choice of charities.

- Source:   http://www.shackelfordfuneraldirectors.com

Photo Courtesy Will Crump

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 Photo Courtesy Will Crump 

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  Photo Courtesy Will Crump 

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Friends of James "J.T." Taylor don't want to remember him by the mangled pictures of his crashed crop duster being published by the media. 

They want to remember him as the experienced agricultural pilot who was in the business for more than 40 years. They want to remember him as the talented pilot who knew nearly every three-cornered patch of farmland in the country. Taylor will also be remembered as a pillar of his community, a devout Christian, a builder, a hunter, a musician, a local hero and an icon, they said.

While working over a field in Middleton, Taylor was killed about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday after his plane hit a power line and crashed.

"He was a very kind man, and I thought the world of him," friend Will Crump wrote in an e-mail to The Jackson Sun. "He had a great sense of humor."

Friends believe the investigation being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will show a faulty plane, not pilot error.

"I can tell you that J.T. was NOT one to take his job flippantly," Crump wrote. "Safety was always his top concern. He never tried to do aerobatics when spraying a field. He flew by the book until the very end."

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Crump worked with Taylor as a volunteer ground crewman for James and Joyce Taylor's Flying Service.

"I helped mix chemicals, and load, refuel and wash the aircraft," he wrote. "I also refueled and reloaded the other pilots that were subcontracted under J.T."

Since Crump was about 5 years old, he's been an agricultural aviation enthusiast.

"I grew up watching James ply his skills," he wrote. "He was always very kind to me and answered the barrage of questions I had about the nature of the job and flying he was so skilled at. The agricultural aviation industry lost a great pilot, and we all lost a kind-hearted southern gentleman. His family lost a loving husband and father."

Dale Arnold, who is close enough to Taylor and his wife to call them "family," said Taylor was more than just a country pilot.

"Anybody that knew James knew that he was a devout Christian," Arnold said. "He was a pillar in his community, especially in his church. He did so many things to donate, to raise money, to help people. He was just a philanthropist without the money."

Taylor was also an avid hunter who built and sold his own duck and turkey calls.

"He was a trapper," Arnold said. "He would trap animals, and the meat was either eaten or donated to charity."

The pilot and hunter was also a gunsmith who spent eight years in the Tennessee National Guard, Arnold said.

"He rebuilt and refurbished old firearms; he collected them," Arnold said.

Taylor, 73, didn't stop there. He was a musician who taught himself to play the guitar and sang with his church members.

"There was nothing he couldn't do," Arnold said. "He lived his life to the fullest."

Taylor was the most skilled and careful pilot that Arnold, who has been a pilot for 28 years, had ever known. For now, friends and family will wait to see what caused the crash, but knowing about Taylor's strong faith is what is getting them through this time.

"He's home," Arnold said.