No fatalities

23 Jun 2016: THRUSH AIRCRAFT INC S2R T65 — WILBUR ELLIS CO. — Lazbuddie, TX

Lazbuddie, TX, United States

On 23 Jun 2016, a THRUSH AIRCRAFT INC S2R T65 operated by WILBUR ELLIS CO. was involved in an aviation accident near Lazbuddie, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudgment of the distance between the airplane and a metering loop pole during an aerial application spray pass, resulting in a collision. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During an aerial application, a pilot misjudged the distance to a metering loop pole, resulting in a right wing impact and damage. The pilot landed uneventfully afterward.

Incident Overview

A pilot conducting an aerial application flight reported an incident that occurred during the first spray pass over a cornfield. The pilot misjudged the distance between the airplane and a metering loop pole. Consequently, the right wing of the airplane struck the pole, sustaining damage.

Post-Impact Actions

Following the impact, the pilot decided to land in order to evaluate the extent of the damage to the aircraft. The subsequent landing was reported as uneventful, with no further issues during the descent or touchdown.

Mechanical Condition

The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The aircraft was operating as expected until the collision with the pole.

Conclusion

The incident was solely attributed to the pilot's misjudgment of distance during the spray pass, leading to the wing striking a fixed object on the ground.

Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of the distance between the airplane and a metering loop pole during an aerial application spray pass, resulting in a collision.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation