Rockwell International S-2R accident near Willows, California, March 8, 2023

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot departed on a routine agricultural flight to spray multiple orchards. Recorded onboard GPS data showed that after spraying three fields, he flew to an almond orchard where he made numerous north-to-south passes over the target area in a racetrack pattern at speeds of about 160 mph, and an altitude of about 135 ft above ground level (agl). Several seconds after he sprayed an area adjacent to a set of 130 ft tall power transmission lines that ran parallel to his flight pattern, he made one more lap in the pattern. The data ceased when the airplane was at the south end of the field while turning north, likely several seconds before impact. The airplane subsequently impacted a powerline and came to rest about 500 ft northeast of the point of initial impact, which was a powerline next to a tower. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller signatures indicated that the propeller was rotating at moderate to high power when it impacted the powerline. The powerline was found wrapped around at least one blade and the propeller hub. A witness recount suggests that the accident took place several seconds after the last flight data point. The pilot was familiar with this orchard and was likely not fatigued at the time. In addition, the position of the sun at the time of the accident would not have been a factor. Although a recount of the pilot’s flying habits indicated he was unlikely to have flown beneath the powerlines, the pilot struck the inside wire between two towers at about the lowest point, which suggests he flew under the powerlines. Thus, the accident was the result of the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while attempting to fly beneath multiple conductors during a low-altitude aerial application flight, which resulted in propeller contact with a powerline and a subsequent loss of control.

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.

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