AIR TRACTOR AT-502B
Tunica, MS — August 13, 2008
Event Information
| Date | August 13, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | NYC08CA279 |
| Event ID | 20081003X17834 |
| Location | Tunica, MS |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 34.68500, -90.34778 |
| Airport | NONE |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | AIR TRACTOR |
| Model | AT-502B |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during low-altitude maneuvers.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the agricultural airplane flew along a set of power lines, which ran over a wooded area that restricted his ability to see both sides of a field that he was going to spray. After flying along the power lines, he determined that he had enough clearance to "fit under the wire." He thought that it looked "good," and began his spray run on the east side of a field passing under the power lines without incident. He then began a spray run on the west side of the field, but as he approached the power lines he realized that the "wire was too low to go under." Rather than risk hooking his main landing gear on the wires and flipping the airplane onto its back, he chose to "fly into the wire." The airplane received substantial damage to the propeller, engine, empennage, wings and landing gear.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.