N9086V

Substantial
Serious

Air Tractor AT-502BS/N: 502B-0612

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
NTSB Number
DFW05LA179
Location
Hickory Ridge, AR
Event ID
20050714X01020
Coordinates
35.366664, -90.949996
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during aerial application.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N9086V
Make
AIR TRACTOR
Serial Number
502B-0612
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
2000
Model / ICAO
AT-502BAT5T
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
BURNETTE AVIATION INC
Address
279 CROSS 114
Status
Deregistered
City
HICKORY RIDGE
State / Zip Code
AR 72347-9276
Country
United States

Analysis

On July 12, 2005, about 1700 central daylight time, a single-engine Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N9086V, was substantially damaged upon collision with terrain while maneuvering at low altitude near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to, and operated by Brunette Flying Service of Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed a private strip near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas, at an unknown time.

A law enforcement deputy, who responded to the accident site, reported that it appeared as if the pilot was flying in a northwesterly direction during an aerial application flight when the left main landing gear impacted a perpendicular positioned field road. The airplane subsequently impacted into a rice field and slid for approximately 100 feet before coming to rest.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. The inspector reported that the turbine powered airplane came to rest upright in a rice field on an easterly heading. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site and there was no evidence of a fire. The first ground scar was a wheel impact mark located on a road approximately 40 yards east of where the airplane came to rest. The inspector further reported that both wings and the fuselage sustained structural damage.

The pilot reported on his most recent medical application that he had accumulated a total time of 1,600 hours with 400 hours logged in the last 6 months.

There were no reported witnesses to the accident. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the operator/pilot did not return a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DFW05LA179