NTSB Factual Report

On March 20, 2002, at 1230 central standard time, a Schweizer G-164A, N9763, operated by Todd's Flying Service, Inc., collided with wires and the terrain during an aerial application flight along highway 151 just west of Cascade, Iowa. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damage. The CFR 14 Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated in Cascade, Iowa, about 1225.

The purpose of the flight was to drop seed along a section of Highway 151 that had recently been under construction. The airplane had taken off from the highway and was heading east to drop seed when the accident occurred. There were two sets of wires which crossed over the highway. Both sets of wires were perpendicular to the highway. The first set was approximately 40 feet above the ground, and the second set was approximately 30 feet above the ground. The airplane traveled under the first wire. As the airplane was traveling under the second wire, the leading edge of the top left wing contacted the wire. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain on the highway median.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his failure to maintain clearance with the wire. A factor associated with the accident was the wire that the airplane contacted.