# Accident 19990818012649A: Airtrc AT402, Holly Bluff, MS, August 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 1999, 18:45 local time
- Place: Holly Bluff, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: OPUG
- Location: 32.7697° N, 90.7099° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7697&lon=-90.7099&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1510Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1510Z-2004-09-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402 (registry code 0390205, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT402
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A15AG
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,642 total, 780 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA229) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990818012649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS INVOLVED WITH AERIAL APPLICATION WHEN ITS RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE, AND THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) PILOT STATED THAT DURING SWATH RUN INTO FIELD HIS WINDSCREEN BECAME CONTAMINATED WITH OVERSPRAY AND HE PULLED UP AND WENT AROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO CLEAR WINDSCREEN ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE RUN.  DURING THE SECOND RUN IN, THE PILOT HOPPED A POWER LINE AND A TREE, HOWEVER HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A SECOND TREE AND STRUCK THE TOPS WITH THE RIGHT WING.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE HARD ROLL TO THE RIGHT WITH SEVERAL REVOLUTIONS.  COUNTER CONTROL WAS INEFFECTIVE.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK RIGHT WING DOWN AND SHEARED THE ENGINE, RIGHT WING AND LANDING GEAR.  DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL.  PILOT COMPARTMENT REMAINED IN TACK, PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. (.4) THE AERIAL APPLICATION AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE WHILE WORKING A PATTERN THAT WAS ORIENTED IN AN EAST-WEST DIRECTION, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO IMPACT THE TERRAIN AND CARTWHEEL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING INSECTICIDE APPLICATION SOME OVERSPRAY ACCUMULATED ON THE WINDSCREEN, LEAVING AN OILY RESIDUE THAT OBSCURED HIS VISION WHEN HIS DIRECTION OF  FLIGHT HEADED INTO THE SUN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA99LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA229), Aug 18, 1999: Air Tractor AT-402 (N1510Z), Holly Bluff, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation between his airplane and a tree while maneuvering during aerial application and the subsequent collision with the tree and the terrain. A factor in…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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