Casualties unknown

Pilot Collides with Power Lines During Agricultural Spraying (N2037J)

Pisek, ND, US

On July 25, 1987, a Cessna T188C (registration N2037J) operated by Dakota Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Pisek, ND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot preparing to spray a potato field collided with power lines after misjudging the position of wires on both sides of a road, resulting in a crash and the aircraft flipping inverted.

Accident Details

A pilot was preparing to spray a potato field with a mixture of water and 2 lbs of 'Blight-Out.' He made one observation pass over the field to check for obstructions and noted two sets of power lines: one on the east side of a road and one on the west side.

Pilot Actions

The pilot began his spray pass to the east. He reported that he 'fixated' on the top of a power line pole to establish the height of the wires. As he pulled up for the pole, he realized he was on the wrong side of the road. The west wires blended in with the wires on the east side of the road.

Collision and Crash

Because he had very little altitude, the pilot decided to fly underneath the power lines. The pilot stated that he collided with the power lines and crashed. The aircraft flipped inverted and skidded to a halt.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X31483. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.