N9089L

On July 2, 2004, at 2005 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-402-A agricultural airplane, N9089L, registered to and operated by a private individual, collided with a transmission wire while surveying a field in Hillsboro, Alabama. The local flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Lawrence County Airport, Courtland, Alabama, on July 2, 2004 at 1930.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to survey a field he was to spray the following morning. The pilot stated that upon over-flying the field, the airplane collided with the top wire of a transmission tower that "was not visible to [him]." He stated that the airplane spun around 180 degrees to the left, the airplane "was out of control," collided with the ground, and came to rest inverted in a nearby field.

Examination of the wreckage site revealed the wreckage debris path extended across the field a distance of 75 feet leading up to the main wreckage site. The tower arm of the transmission tower, that was estimated to be 100 feet high, was bent, and the upper transmission wire was separated.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine assembly separated from the engine mounts, and the propeller hub was separated from the crankshaft. The engine cowling and fuselage were crushed aft to the pilot compartment. The right wingtip was separated, and the leading edge of the right wing was crushed beginning about midspan outboard to the end of the wing. The left wing was partially separated at the root and completely separated approximately midspan. The left horizontal stabilizer leading edge was crushed aft. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight.