What happened
On August 5, 2019, a Cessna A-188B, registration HI-979, was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a rice plantation in Los Rieles, San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic. The aircraft had departed from Ranchito La Vega for its second flight of the day in that specific area. While performing a pass perpendicular to a 138 KV electrical transmission line, the left wing of the aircraft struck the line's shield wire.
The impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, which subsequently plummeted to the ground at approximately 295 feet MSL. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the terrain, with the engine and right wing separating from the fuselage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's medical and physiological state. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, with its last annual inspection completed in September 2018. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, with good visibility and light winds.
A critical component of the investigation involved a toxicological analysis of the pilot. The autopsy and subsequent laboratory tests revealed the presence of cocaine in the pilot's system, a finding that is incompatible with safe flight operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of situational awareness, which prevented the pilot from effectively identifying and avoiding the electrical transmission line obstacle during low-altitude maneuvering.
- The presence of illicit substances (cocaine) in the pilot's system was identified as a significant contributing factor to the occurrence of the event.
- Physical evidence, including metal fragments from the left wing embedded in the shield wire, confirmed the collision with the power line.