Casualties unknown

Aerial Application Aircraft Strikes Power Lines During Maneuver (N21650)

Rush Springs, OK, US

On June 15, 2004, a Cessna 188B (registration N21650) was involved in an aviation accident near Rush Springs, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a utility pole and power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During an aerial application flight, a commercial pilot with 4,180 hours struck two power lines and a utility pole while maneuvering. The aircraft continued to the airstrip and landed.

Incident Details

An aerial application aircraft struck two power lines and a utility pole while maneuvering over a field. The pilot, a commercial aviator with 4,180 hours of flight experience, had departed from a grass airstrip with a load of 65 gallons of water and grazon chemical mixture.

Flight Description

The pilot entered the field from the south with the intention of spraying the west side of the field, flying over trees. During descent into the field, the aircraft immediately impacted a utility pole and two power lines that were aligned in an east-west orientation.

Outcome

Despite the impact with the power lines and pole, the aircraft remained capable of sustained flight. The pilot successfully continued to the airstrip and executed a landing.

No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040622X00850. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.