N4864Q

On July 28, 1997, at 1145 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N4864Q, operated by Blue Sky Airspray, sustained substantial damage while spraying a field when it hit a powerline. The airline transport pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft and returned to Newton, Kansas, where he landed the airplane. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial sprayer had departed Newton, Kansas, on a local aerial application flight. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he was making a fourth pass on a field during aerial application and "failed to initiate a pull-up in time to clear the powerline." The right main landing gear struck a wire. The pilot reported that the wire cutter located on the right landing gear did not sever the wire. As the airplane continued forward, the wire broke in two from the force of the impact with the airplane. The wire on the right side of the airplane broke about 30 feet from the airplane. The wire went underneath the empenage and wrapped itself around the left elevator. The left elevator and horizontal stabilizer were being cut in two until the wire on the left side of the aircraft broke. A 75 foot section of wire trailed the airplane as the pilot continued flying. By applying about 40 pounds of forward stick pressure and not dumping the chemical load, he was able to land at Newton, Kansas.

The pilot reported that he was fatigued as a result of working approximately 18 hour days the week prior to the accident.