Rockwell S-2R N3211R

Summary

On 5 July 2005 at about 13:26 local time, a Rockwell S-2R registered N3211R, operated by Dakota Air Spray Inc, was involved in an accident near Bristol, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 2005 at 13:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Bristol, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

45.1564, -97.8422

Aircraft

Rockwell S-2R

Registration

N3211R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dakota Air Spray Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bristol → Bristol

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05LA164

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the static lines between the transmission towers. A factor associated with the accident were the static lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with static lines during an aerial application flight. A witness to the accident reported seeing the airplane flying to the north-northeast, almost paralleling the power lines. The airplane then made a turn and contacted the power lines. The witness reported seeing the airplane in a left bank, but was not sure if the bank occurred prior to or after the airplane contacted the power lines. The airplane then descended to the ground. The static lines were strung between steel towers that are approximately 100 feet in height. Each tower has two static lines that are strung along the tops of the towers, each supported by its own arm of the tower. There are three main transmission lines running between the towers that are located below the static lines. One of the static lines was severed and the other was disconnected at the tower. The airplane came to rest inverted in a slough approximately 30 to 40 yards north-northwest of the power lines. The outboard section of the right wing was bent downward and the right wing section of the spray boom was separated from the airplane. One propeller blade contained a leading edge gouges similar in diameter to the static line. The right main gear was separated from the airplane and was located near the tower 24-373. The gear strut contained a series of impressions consistent with contact with the static line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.