On October 2, 1998, a Cessna 188B (registration N4832R) operated by William Harry MC Gowan was involved in an aviation accident near Tellasse, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot was not completely clear of the power lines when pushing over to start the spray run, resulting in entanglement with the ridge wire. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot became entangled in a power line ridge wire while pushing over into a cotton field, causing the aircraft to fall 250-300 feet and spin around.
Incident Summary
The pilot of a spray aircraft was approaching from the northeast to begin a swath spray run. The arrival end of the field was intersected by power lines, which the pilot intended to fly over. After waiting to clear the lines, the pilot pushed over into the cotton field to start the spray pass, believing he was clear of the power lines. However, the aircraft was not completely clear, and during the push-over maneuver, it became entangled with the ridge wire that runs between poles to provide stability. The wire tangled between the propeller blades and around the propeller shaft, slowing the engine to a stop. Once tethered by the cable, the aircraft fell approximately 250 to 300 feet. It struck a slope, and the impact caused the aircraft to rotate almost 180 degrees from its original direction of travel.
Probable cause
The pilot was not completely clear of the power lines when pushing over to start the spray run, resulting in entanglement with the ridge wire.
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