Summary
On July 12, 2005, a Air Tractor AT-502B (N9086V) was involved in an accident near Hickory Ridge, AR. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during aerial application.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report DFW05LA179. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9086V.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during aerial application.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
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