Summary
On July 02, 2001, a Air Tractor AT-401 (N4549E) was involved in an incident near Ellinwood, KS. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot failed to see and avoid the guy wire during an aerial application flight. A factor associated with the accident was the guy wire.
On July 2, 2001, at 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N4549E, contacted a guy wire and collided with the terrain during an aerial application flight in Ellinwood, Kansas. The commercial pilot flying the airplane was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported he departed the Ellinwood Municipal Airport at approximately 0900 central daylight time.
The pilot reported he saw the poles during the aerial application flight. He reported he knew that there would be wires in the area so he swung out wide during a turn to look for the wires. The right wing contacted a guy wire during the turn. The airplane then settled into the sunflower crop.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI01LA195. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4549E.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot failed to see and avoid the guy wire during an aerial application flight. A factor associated with the accident was the guy wire.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 2, 2001, at 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N4549E, contacted a guy wire and collided with the terrain during an aerial application flight in Ellinwood, Kansas. The commercial pilot flying the airplane was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported he departed the Ellinwood Municipal Airport at approximately 0900 central daylight time.
The pilot reported he saw the poles during the aerial application flight. He reported he knew that there would be wires in the area so he swung out wide during a turn to look for the wires. The right wing contacted a guy wire during the turn. The airplane then settled into the sunflower crop.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI01LA195