On June 30, 1997, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N4396S) was involved in an aviation accident near Edna, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from overhead wires during a low-altitude agricultural application, which resulted in the left wing striking a guy wire. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a routine agricultural spraying operation, the pilot lost control after the left wing contacted an overhead guy wire, resulting in minor structural damage and a safe landing.
What happened
The pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight when the incident occurred. He reported that he had successfully completed spraying a 110-acre field of milo without any prior issues. The accident took place while the aircraft was on its final pass, flying along overhead power lines.
During this low-altitude maneuver, the left wing of the aircraft made contact with a guy wire supporting the power line infrastructure. This impact severed the outer four feet of the left wingtip. Immediately following the collision, the airplane rolled to the left due to the asymmetric damage and loss of lift on that side.
The pilot managed to maintain control long enough to bring the airplane down to the ground. The aircraft came to rest on its landing gear in an upright position. There were no reports of fire or further structural compromise beyond the wingtip damage.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from overhead wires during a low-altitude agricultural application, which resulted in the left wing striking a guy wire.