Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the wheat crop and the ground.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On May 14, 2003, about 1630 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5192T, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Benkelman, Nebraska. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from the Jones Airport, Benkelman Nebraska about 1610.
The pilot stated the right spray boom of the airplane contacted a wheat crop during an aerial application pass. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain.
The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions with respect to the airplane or its systems.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI03LA124