| Crash location | 31.486944°N, 89.517223°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Collins, MS
31.645443°N, 89.555346°W 11.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N7392S |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 14 May 2009 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna R182 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that he was performing pipeline patrol and in a climbing left turn, when the glare from the sun temporarily blinded him. As he reached up to manipulate the sun visors, the airplane's right wing impacted a 320-foot-tall radio antenna. After the collision, slight left rudder pressure was required to counter the right turning tendency. The rudder and elevator controls were unaffected and the pilot stated that he felt no vibration or buffeting. The pilot continued to his destination and landed without event. After landing, he discovered that the airplane sustained damage to the right wing spar and the right aileron. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane. He further stated that a heightened awareness of the exposure to potential obstructions in the pipeline patrol area might prevent a recurrence of this type of accident.
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an antenna during a low-altitude aerial observation flight. Contributing to the accident was the sun glare.