Overview
An accident occurred during aerial application operations when the pilot of an airplane collided with the upper portion of a power transmission wire array. The pilot reported that his concentration was focused on maintaining clearance from the three large-diameter wires that comprised the lower part of the array. He did not see the smaller wires of the upper portion until the moment before impact.
Incident Details
The power transmission wire array consisted of three large-diameter wires in its lower section and smaller wires above them. The pilot stated that his attention was dedicated to avoiding the larger wires, and the smaller wires went unnoticed until the final split second. The collision involved the upper, smaller wires, which remained intact.
Outcome
The airplane rebounded approximately 300 feet from the point of impact and came to rest in a nearby pond, landing in an upright orientation. The wires themselves were not damaged, as they remained intact throughout the event.