Accident Cessna A188B N731PW, Sunday 5 September 1999

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Date:	Sunday 5 September 1999
Time:	09:30 LT
Type:	Cessna A188B
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N731PW
MSN:	18803057T
Year of manufacture:	1977
Total airframe hrs:	5207 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Randalette, OK - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Tipton, OK (OK26)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The airplane's right wing contacted a telephone pole when the pilot was blinded by the sun, while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was in a left bank turning towards the east, when the sun 'blinded him.' He added that as he was 'watching thru the satloc, [he] saw one pole pass under [the] right wing, then one under [the] left, so [he] pushed down.' Subsequently, the right wing contacted a third telephone pole, and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted.

Probable Cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the telephone pole. A factor was the sunglare.

Accident investigation: