Summary
On July 23, 1995, a Piper PA-25-235 (N7601Z) was involved in an incident near Allendale, SC. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE GUY WIRE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER AND THE PILOT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE TERRAIN.
On July 23, 1995, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7601Z, collided with a guy wire, during landing, near Allendale, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by Sky Ag Aviation under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. Origination of the flight was Sycamore, South Carolina, abut 1700, on the same day.
The pilot reported that while spraying crops, large thunderstorms and gusty winds forced him to abandon the spraying operation. He had been operating in the local area for about four days and was unfamiliar with the terrain.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ATL95LA144. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7601Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE GUY WIRE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER AND THE PILOT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE TERRAIN.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On July 23, 1995, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7601Z, collided with a guy wire, during landing, near Allendale, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by Sky Ag Aviation under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. Origination of the flight was Sycamore, South Carolina, abut 1700, on the same day.
The pilot reported that while spraying crops, large thunderstorms and gusty winds forced him to abandon the spraying operation. He had been operating in the local area for about four days and was unfamiliar with the terrain. He lost sight of a companion airplane, as they were proceeding to Allendale for landing. Because of a thunderstorm ahead of him, and gusts from a storm behind him, he elected to land on a dirt, county road. During the landing, one wing was substantially damaged when it contacted a guy wire for an electrical pole.
The report of the accident was provided to the FAA on July 27, 1995. The operater stated that the damage was initially reported to him as minor. When he examined the airplane and discovered substantial damage, he provided that information to the Flight Standards District Office.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL95LA144