NTSB Factual Report

On October 18, 2000, at 1130 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural aircraft, N3165G, was destroyed after impacting wires and terrain while maneuvering near Littlefield, Texas. The aircraft was owned and operated by Burkett Flying Service of Sinton, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. 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 boll weevil eradication flight originated from the Littlefield Municipal Airport at an undetermined time.

According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane was spraying a cotton field approximately 5 feet about the ground, when the right wing struck a guy wire extending out from a transmission line, which ran along the south edge of the field. This was the pilot's first pass of the field. He was flying from west to east parallel to the transmission line and perpendicular to the guy wire. The guy wire extended into the cotton field and stabilized a pole. The wire struck about 4 feet in from the right wing tip and tore the end of the wing off. The airplane impacted the ground within 600 feet of the wire strike and a fire ensued.

The Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy on the pilot. There was no evidence found of any preexisting disease that could have contributed to the accident.

Toxicological tests performed by the FAA's Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, alcohol, and drugs.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a guy wire while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.