Air Tractor AT-502
Waitsburg, WA — April 27, 2008
Event Information
| Date | April 27, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | SEA08CA113 |
| Event ID | 20080529X00753 |
| Location | Waitsburg, WA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 46.29167, -118.08334 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Air Tractor |
| Model | AT-502 |
| 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 terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the rising terrain.
Full Narrative
After arriving at the steep hillside field to which he was going to apply chemicals, the pilot maneuvered at low level over the field in an attempt to determine the best pattern to fly to accomplish the job. During that process he inadvertently allowed himself to get in a position from which the airplane was not able to climb over the rising terrain. Although he dumped his chemical load and leveled the airplane's wings, the airplane impacted the terrain about 75 feet below the top of a ridge.
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.