On May 23, 1989, a Piper PA-36-300 (registration N82644) operated by Brett Barber was involved in an aviation accident near Agar, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (powerline) during a low-altitude turnaround maneuver while conducting smoke dispensing operations. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting a smoke dispensing run along the north edge of a field collided with a powerline immediately after completing a left turnaround, resulting in a crash.
What happened
The pilot was engaged in an agricultural operation involving smoke dispensing along the northern boundary of a designated field. The flight path followed a west-to-east trajectory parallel to the north edge of the target area. A powerline ran along this same northern edge, creating a potential hazard at low altitude.
Upon completing the linear smoke run, the pilot initiated a left turnaround to reposition for the next pass. During the execution of this maneuver, the aircraft struck the overhead powerline. The impact caused the aircraft to crash immediately following the collision.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (powerline) during a low-altitude turnaround maneuver while conducting smoke dispensing operations.
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