Ayres S-2R, N3003N: Accident occurred August 25, 2016 in Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N3003N

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA451
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, August 25, 2016 in Cordele, GA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/06/2017
Aircraft: AYRES CORPORATION S 2R, registration: N3003N
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot, he was maneuvering at low altitude, while performing an agricultural aerial application flight. He reported that he decided to fly underneath power lines and misjudged the height of the lines in relation to the airplane. He recalled that the airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder struck the power lines. He landed the airplane in a field and the landing gear collapsed. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, reported that the pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes as he passed under the power lines. He reported that the pilot did not immediately execute a precautionary landing after striking the lines; instead he made one more spray pass.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations.

During the course of the investigation, the NTSB Investigator-in-charge attempted to contact the pilot on multiple occasions to no avail. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight while flying toward the sun.