Summary
On August 22, 2009, a Air Tractor INC AT-502 (N4516K) was involved in an accident near East Grand Forks, MN. The accident resulted in 1 minor 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 the crops while maneuvering at low altitude.
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude on an agricultural application flight when the right wing contacted the crops during a turn. He was unable to recover and subsequently impacted the terrain. He noted that he had lost track of the airplane's altitude as he was referencing some charts in an attempt to locate the correct field to be sprayed. He added that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA540. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4516K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the crops while maneuvering at low altitude.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude on an agricultural application flight when the right wing contacted the crops during a turn. He was unable to recover and subsequently impacted the terrain. He noted that he had lost track of the airplane's altitude as he was referencing some charts in an attempt to locate the correct field to be sprayed. He added that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA540