NTSB Factual Report

On June 10, 2005, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a single-engine Cessna A188B agricultural airplane, N4842R, was substantially damaged when it struck a power line while maneuvering during an aerial application flight near Truman, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Truman, Arkansas, at an unknown time.

The 2,100-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that prior to commencing the spraying operations, he circled the field to be sprayed 3 times in order to prevent drift into a nearby house. He added that during the aerial application flight, while traveling into the setting sun in a westerly heading, "he became distracted by the sunglare and a small shed" on his flight path and consequently "exited the field too late." The airplane collided with a set of power lines and the pilot was able to land the airplane at a private airstrip without further incident.

The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from the SSE at 3 to 6 knots.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the top five inches of the aircraft's vertical stabilizer was severed by the powerlines.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. A contributing factor was the sunglare.