N6135P – AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 – 2017-07-02 NTSB Accident Report

On July 02, 2017, a Air Tractor INC AT 502 (N6135P) was involved in an incident near Edna, TX. 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’s failure to see and avoid a tower during an agricultural application flight.

The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at low altitude over a field during an aerial application flight, he was focused on the top of the electrical poles that paralleled the field. He added that he crossed between the electrical poles and was focused on the pole to the right of the airplane. Once he crossed the top wire he focused his attention forward, but added that he "was staring at a 30-ft tower just to the left of the nose" of the airplane. The airplane struck the tower and then impacted the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA385. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6135P.