N5097S

On May 10, 2011, a Air Tractor INC AT-301 (N5097S) was involved in an incident near Garwood, TX. 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 maintain adequate clearance from transmission wires during a low-level maneuvering flight.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low-altitude to apply applicant to a field. Transmission wires were located near the beginning of his job area. The pilot stated that while overflying the wires, the airplane encountered a gust of wind which shifted the airplane's flight path towards the wires. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to fly under the wires. The wires struck the airplane's propeller and vertical fin. Aircraft control was lost and the airplane impacted terrain. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage, both wings, the vertical fin, and empennage. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions prior to the collision.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA330. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5097S.