On August 4, 1983, a Cessna T188C (registration N3195J) was involved in an aviation accident near Semmes, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines during an aerial application maneuver. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft registered N3195J. Photo: DUNCAN KIRK from Coeur d'Alene, United States / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An aircraft engaged in aerial application collided with overhead power lines during a maneuver, resulting in the loss of the vertical stabilizer and a subsequent fire in a cornfield.
What happened
The aircraft was conducting an aerial application maneuver when it unexpectedly encountered two sets of power lines crossing the area: a lower set and a higher set. The pilot initially managed to climb over the lower wires but subsequently struck the high set. Upon impact, the vertical stabilizer caught the wires and was torn off, causing the aircraft to nose into a cornfield where it caught fire.
The investigation
Investigation revealed that the pilot held a medical limitation for vision that required corrective lenses. Records confirmed that the pilot was complying with this requirement at the time of the accident.
Findings
The collision occurred due to the pilot's sudden encounter with the high set of wires during the maneuver. The structural failure of the vertical stabilizer was a direct result of the wire impact.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines during an aerial application maneuver.
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