Summary
On June 07, 2019, a Air Tractor AT502 (N60642) was involved in an accident near Monument, KS. 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 altitude due to distraction by ground equipment in the airplane’s path, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight and resulted in a loss of airplane control.
The pilot reported that during an agricultural application flight, about 10ft above the ground, he became distracted by ground equipment in the airplane's path, and the airplane's right main landing gear descended into the wheat crop. Subsequently, the right spray boom descended into the wheat crop. The airplane veered right, descended uncontrolled, and collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA328. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N60642.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to distraction by ground equipment in the airplane’s path, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight and resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that during an agricultural application flight, about 10ft above the ground, he became distracted by ground equipment in the airplane's path, and the airplane's right main landing gear descended into the wheat crop. Subsequently, the right spray boom descended into the wheat crop. The airplane veered right, descended uncontrolled, and collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA328