Cessna A188B N5850G

Summary

On 27 August 2014 at about 13:50 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N5850G, operated by Taylor James E, was involved in an accident near Middleton, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 August 2014 at 13:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Middleton, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.1844, -88.8953

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N5850G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Taylor James E

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bolivar → Bolivar

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA409

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during a low-level aerial application operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was applying chemicals to a soybean field when the airplane struck power lines about 20 ft above the ground. The outboard half of the right wing was severed from the impact with the wires, and the airplane crashed north of the power lines. Data from a handheld GPS recovered at the accident site revealed that the airplane was in level flight, at low altitude, and on a northerly heading when it impacted the wires. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting anomaly or malfunction. The propeller blades exhibited signatures consistent with power at the time of impact, and several tree limbs were found along the debris field with smooth, 45-degree cuts. Toxicology testing on the pilot revealed that he was taking medications for hypertension and edema. The pilot had not reported these conditions to the Federal Aviation Administration; however, the autopsy report revealed no evidence of a heart attack or any other incapacitating event.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.