This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 7 March 2023 |
| Time: | 16:11 |
| Type: |  Rockwell S-2R-T331 Turbo Thrush |
| Owner/operator: | Jones Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N8424V |
| MSN: | 2184R |
| Year of manufacture: | 1976 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Willows, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Willows-Glenn County Airport, CA (WLW/KWLW) |
| Willows-Glenn County Airport, CA (WLW/KWLW) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On March 7, 2023, about 1611 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell International S-2R, N8424V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Willows, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight.
The pilot departed on a routine agricultural flight to spray multiple orchards. Recorded onboard GPS data showed that after spraying three fields, he flew to an almond orchard where he made numerous north-to-south passes over the target area in a racetrack pattern at speeds of about 160 mph, and an altitude of about 135 ft above ground level (agl). Several seconds after he sprayed an area adjacent to a set of 130 ft tall power transmission lines that ran parallel to his flight pattern, he made one more lap in the pattern. The data ceased when the airplane was at the south end of the field while turning north, likely several seconds before impact. The airplane subsequently impacted a powerline and came to rest about 500 ft northeast of the point of initial impact, which was a powerline next to a tower.
Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller signatures indicated that the propeller was rotating at moderate to high power when it impacted the powerline. The powerline was found wrapped around at least one blade and the propeller hub.
A witness recount suggests that the accident took place several seconds after the last flight data point. The pilot was familiar with this orchard and was likely not fatigued at the time. In addition, the position of the sun at the time of the accident would not have been a factor.
Although a recount of the pilot’s flying habits indicated he was unlikely to have flown beneath the powerlines, the pilot struck the inside wire between two towers at about the lowest point, which suggests he flew under the powerlines. Thus, the accident was the result of the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while attempting to fly beneath multiple conductors during a low-altitude aerial application flight, which resulted in propeller contact with a powerline and a subsequent loss of control.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while flying under multiple conductors during a low-altitude aerial application flight, which resulted in propeller contact with a powerline and a subsequent loss of control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/local/one-dead-in-plane-crash-near-willows-glenn-county-sheriffs-office-says/article_32b53a24-bd4e-11ed-b83e-bf09ec489f98.html
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106847
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N8424V
https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_024/1036771-large.jpg (photo)
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Jun-2024 21:33 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source, Narrative, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation