On 17 Oct 2019, a Weatherly 620 B operated by Roger J. Zeledon Dba was involved in an aviation accident near Fabens, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires while maneuvering at a low altitude. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During an agricultural application flight, a pilot struck powerline wires on the seventh pass, resulting in a left skidding turn and ground impact. The aircraft was consumed by fire.
Incident Overview
During an agricultural application flight, the pilot reported completing six passes underneath powerline wires to apply materials. On the seventh pass, the wire deflector cable and the vertical stabilizer struck the wires. According to the pilot, the vertical stabilizer jammed the rudder to the left, causing the airplane to enter a skidding left turn. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, and the pilot exited the aircraft. The airplane was consumed by fire.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact and subsequent fire.