Summary
On February 07, 2000, a Rockwell S-2R (N7780V) was involved in an accident near Kahlotus, WA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude over, or clearance with, a barbed-wire fence. A factor was the fence.
On February 7, 2000, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell International S-2R agricultural aircraft, N7780V, being operated by Faunce Ag Air of Spokane, Washington, on a 14 CFR 137 agricultural aerial application flight, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence wire and subsequently impacted terrain near Kahlotus, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command of the single-seat aircraft received minor injuries in the accident. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight.
This accident is documented in NTSB report SEA00LA043. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7780V.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude over, or clearance with, a barbed-wire fence. A factor was the fence.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On February 7, 2000, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell International S-2R agricultural aircraft, N7780V, being operated by Faunce Ag Air of Spokane, Washington, on a 14 CFR 137 agricultural aerial application flight, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence wire and subsequently impacted terrain near Kahlotus, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command of the single-seat aircraft received minor injuries in the accident. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight departed Kahlotus approximately 1400.
The pilot reported that the airplane impacted on its nose "after hooking [and] entangling a barbed wire fence." He indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved, and also indicated in the operator/owner safety recommendation section of his NTSB accident report that the accident could have been prevented by "Fly[ing] higher." The pilot reported that skies were clear and that visibility at the time was 20 miles, with calm winds and no turbulence.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA00LA043