Incident Overview
During an aerial application operation, the pilot was conducting swath runs over two fields separated by high tension power lines. Between these fields, a smaller wire extended from the high tension lines to a substation located approximately one-quarter of a mile away. This wire, which was suspended 73 feet above the ground, was not marked with any visual warning devices. Additionally, no support poles existed for this wire between the high tension lines and the substation.
Sequence of Events
As the pilot performed the swath runs, the aircraft came into contact with the unmarked wire. The collision caused substantial damage to the airplane's right wing. Despite the damage, the pilot retained control and flew the aircraft back to the departure airport. The occurrence was limited to the wire strike, and the pilot successfully returned to the airport without further incident.
Damage Assessment
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing as a result of the wire impact. No other damage was reported.
Contributing Factors
The source does not explicitly state any contributing factors or probable cause for the accident.