Piper PA-36-285 accident near Silverton, Texas, October 18, 2008
On October 18, 2008 at about 7:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-285, registered N57740, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Silverton, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2008 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Silverton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-285 · all PA-36-285s on the register
- Registration
- N57740 · no longer on the register · serial 36-7660055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial application flight, the airplane, piloted by a commercial pilot, contacted a transmission wire during an undetermined phase of flight. The vertical stabilizer separated from the airplane and was not recovered. Aircraft control was not possible and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain. The pilot was seriously injured. Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the anti-snag deflector cable and vertical stabilizer consistent with a wire strike. Displaying signs of wear, the pilot's restraint system failed in two locations resulting in additional injury to the pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Vertical stabilizer › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Flight compartment equipment › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,850 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2008
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bull Town Sprayers Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Silverton TX at 5:55 pm
- Destination: Silverton TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 pm from KPVW, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.