CAPON BRIDGE, WV, USA
N1FN
DOUGLAS DC-3
WHILE SPRAYING GYPSY MOTHES WITH DIMILIN OVER WOODED/HILLY TERRAIN, THE DC-3 COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES IN A VALLEY AREA. WITNESSES IN AN NEARBY OBSERVATION AIRCRAFT REPORTED THE DC-3 ENTERED A GRADUAL CLIMB, WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE DC-3 WAS IN A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PILOT OF THE OBSERVATION AIRCRAFT TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DC-3 PILOTS, BUT COULD NOT MAKE RADIO CONTACT. THE OBSERVATION PILOT REPORTED THE DC-3 ENTERED A STALL/SPIN AT ABOUT 1200 FT AGL, THEN CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE. THE DC-3 WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE CUTTER KIT.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF THE DC-3, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWERLINES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTION (TRANSMISSION WIRES), AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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