Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid a guy wire along the border of a field that was being agriculturally treated. The sunglare, guy wire, and lack of visual cues were related factors.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On June 21, 1996, at 0900 hours Pacific daylight time an Aeronca, 7AC, N2456E, was substantially damaged during a collision with a wire while on an aerial application flight near Lamont, California. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the agricultural operation. The flight originated at Caruthers, California, on the morning of the accident.
In the pilot's report to the Safety Board he stated that he was flying east into the morning's rising sun and did not see the guy wire. He said the wire had been installed by PG&E since the last time he had worked the field. The wire was reported to be about 15 feet above ground level.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX96LA239