Agricultural Spray Aircraft Entangled in Power Lines

Casualties unknown • Tellasse, AL, US

An agricultural spray aircraft crashed after becoming entangled with power line ridge wires during a maneuver over a cotton field.

What happened

The pilot was performing a swath spray operation, approaching from the northeast. The flight path required navigating around power lines that intersected a cotton field located at the arrival end of the maneuver.

As the pilot attempted to push over into the cotton field to begin the spray run, the aircraft was not sufficiently clear of the electrical infrastructure. The aircraft became entangled with a ridge wire—the cable running between poles to provide structural stability.

The entanglement occurred between the propeller blades and the propeller shaft, which caused the engine to slow to a stop. While held by the tension of the cable, the aircraft fell approximately 250 to 300 feet. The descent ended when the aircraft struck a slope, resulting in a near 180-degree change from its original direction of impact.

There were no injuries reported following the accident.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient clearance from power lines during the push over maneuver led to entanglement with a ridge wire.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1998-10-02 Cessna 188B accident near Tellasse, AL?

An agricultural spray aircraft crashed after becoming entangled with power line ridge wires during a maneuver over a cotton field.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-10-02 involved a Cessna 188B, registration N4832R, operated by William Harry MC Gowan, at Tellasse, AL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient clearance from power lines during the push over maneuver led to entanglement with a ridge wire.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11198. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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