Flight and Accident
On the morning of February 14, 2018, at approximately 08:08 local time, a Cessna A-188B (registration N-2451J) operated by AEROSERVA, S.R.L., was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a rice plantation when it struck a guard cable strung between high-tension towers in the Los Cacaos area of Jima, Bonao, Dominican Republic. Following the impact, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed to the ground.
Injuries and Damage
The sole occupant, the pilot, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent ground collision. Damage was also inflicted upon the electrical power line infrastructure; no other damage was reported to the investigation commission at the time of the report.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a Dominican national born on February 24, 1949, held a Commercial Pilot license with multi-engine and instrument ratings. His last medical examination was conducted on July 21, 2017. He had accumulated approximately 30,020 total flight hours, including 15,020 hours on the Cessna A-188B model. In the 90 days prior to the accident he flew 100 hours; within 30 days, 70 hours; within 72 hours, 12 hours; and in the 24 hours before the accident, 5 hours. The duty period began at 07:30, with 8 hours of rest before start, and he had flown 45 minutes at the time of the accident.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna A-188B (serial number 18803465) was a single-engine, low-wing airplane manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company. It was powered by one Teledyne Continental Motors IO520D reciprocating engine (serial 572987) and a McCauley B2A34C205-C propeller. Total airframe hours at the time of the accident were 6,157.7; engine total time was 2,447.7 hours with 1,222.4 hours since overhaul. The last 100-hour inspection was completed on September 29, 2017. The aircraft used 100 LL fuel and had a conventional landing gear and a single seat.
Meteorological Conditions
According to the official weather bulletin issued by the Dominican Office of Meteorology (ONAMET), valid from 06:00 on February 13 to 06:00 on February 15, 2018: During the morning hours, skies were forecast to be partly cloudy, with increasing cloudiness after midday due to an upper-level trough interacting with east/northeasterly winds, bringing occasional showers, possible thunderstorms, and wind gusts, but with reduced intensity and frequency. Specific conditions at the accident time are not detailed.
Investigation and Findings
The Dominican Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) conducted the investigation. The probable cause was determined to be impact with high-tension cables due to a lack of risk perception ("Impacto con cables de alta tensión debido a la falta de percepción del riesgo"). No other causal factors were identified by the commission.