http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2005/09/17/news/local/ea6b5511d335709e8625707f00169815.txt

Pilot error ruled in 2004 crash near Moville By Christian Richardson, Journal staff writer

Inadequate in-flight planning and failure to clear a large tree are cited as the probable cause of an August 2004 fatal airplane crash near Moville, Iowa, the National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday.

Another contributing factor to the crop duster crash seven miles southeast of Moville was low altitude flying, the NTSB stated in the report posted on the agency's Web site.

Alan F. Foster, 44, of Adel, Iowa, had been spraying a soybean field for aphids on Aug. 11. After hitting the tree the plane crashed in a cornfield.

Foster was the only person aboard the plane; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Foster -- a commercial pilot -- had been flying a 1976 Allied Ag Cat Productions Inc., Grumman-164B biplane.

A witness told an investigator "that the pilot was consistently flying under high-voltage power lines that were located on the west end of the field," the report stated. An on-scene examination showed that "the tree that the aircraft struck was located about 40 yards west of the high-voltage lines."

Foster had accumulated 1,500 hours of total flight time with about 80 hours in the 90 days prior to the wreck.

The plane hit the tree about 40 to 45 feet from the ground. Branches, which showed signs of being hit by the plane's propeller, were found at the crash site and under the tree as well as along the path of the aircraft's descent to the ground.

That morning Foster had departed from the Cherokee, Iowa, Municipal Airport with no flight plan on file, the NTSB stated in its report. The day offered visible conditions.

About 11:42 a.m. the craft hit the tree and terrain during an aerial application maneuver over a field. The plane crashed among corn crops and was destroyed on impact.

From evidence at the scene, it did not appear the pilot attempted to land in the field, authorities previously said.

After hitting the ground the plane caught on fire and the pilot died, the report stated.

The crash destroyed the plane leaving little but two burned wings and a fuselage, authorities had said.

The engine was found under the spray tank, the NTSB disclosed. The propeller blade was curled and melted. The left wings showed damage consistent with ground impact. The right wings showed damage consistent with striking a tree.

The initial call for a missing plane came to law enforcement agencies about 11:40 a.m. Two minutes later Mercy Medical Center's helicopter spotted the downed plane in the field.

That night Federal Aviation Administration investigators from Des Moines were at the scene. The FAA conducted the initial investigation, then worked with the NTSB before a probable cause was released.

Submitted on 09/26/2005

Submitted by: Iain Macdonald
Reference:

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Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Thanks, but I don't see enough additional information to warrent passing this along to Wendy, since your earlier submission made it onto the Slush Pile. Congratulations!

James said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Nothing more here, but as Jack said, your earlier submission was quite sufficient!

Kelly said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
There might not be much extra details, but there are some and it isn't going to hurt anything to pass it on to Wendy for extra information. Thanks Iain

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes

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