Mosquito Control Aircraft Collided With Unlit Tower

The NTSB has determined pilot error and improper flight planning were the likely causes of a September 11, 2004 accident that claimed the lives of two men aboard a Piper Aztec twin after the plane struck an unlit television tower outside of Lake Wales, FL.

Pilot Dave Wilkes and copilot Harold Miller were flying a Mosquito Control mission when the accident occurred, according to the Lakeland (FL) Ledger.

The tower -- which had lost power after Hurricane Charley roared through the area a month earlier -- was covered by a NOTAM issued by Comcast Cable advising pilots to steer clear of the area as the tower's warning lights weren't operating.

The NTSB report states Wilkes did not obtain a weather or preflight briefing before the flight -- which would have included the NOTAM. Allen Loe, president of Vector Disease Control -- which had been contracted by FEMA to spray for mosquitoes after last year's storms -- disputes part of that ruling.

"We do our own [briefings] every day," Loe said, adding Wilkes had received a company briefing with representatives from the Department of Agriculture prior to taking off at 4:15 that morning, including notices about the unlit tower.

"We're in a very dangerous business," said Loe. "When you fly 250 feet off the ground at 150 miles an hour -- it's something that occurs in this industry. It was one of those unfortunate things that happen."

The NTSB stated the Aztec (file photo of type, above) struck the 520-foot tower about 20 feet from the top.

FMI: Read The Probable Cause Report