NTSB: Plane crashed due to pilot negligence

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined Tuesday probable cause of October's plane crash in Roosevelt County to be the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.

Pilot Bill Byrd, a cropduster with King Ag Aviation in Sudan, Texas, suffered minor injuries after his single-enginecrop duster clipped a power line and crashed into a Roosevelt County cotton field in mid October.

File photo

An official National Transportation Safety Board report found probable cause in Roosevelt County's October plane crash to be the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

Byrd's plane crashed in farmer Rick Ledbetter's field, causing a short power outage in the area.

Johnny King, owner of King Ag Aviation, said Byrd has been flying for King Ag Aviation since March. King said Byrd in his 60's.

According to the NTSB report, investigators used data provided by various entities including the Federal Aviation Administration and the operator. Investigators said they did not perform and on-site investigation.

The NTSB report found:

• The pilot was maneuvering the airplane above a crop field during an aerial application flight. Upon entering the field from the south, the pilot misjudged the airplane's distance from power lines and struck one.
• He subsequently lost control of the airplane, which hit the ground, landed on its top, severely damaging the tail section.
• The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine prior to the crash.

Lynn Lunsford, public affairs manager for the FAA, said the NTSB report's probable cause is final.

"He failed to stay clear of the power lines while applying the spray to the crops," said Lunsford.