20000717012429A

(-23) On July 17, 2000, an agricultural aircraft, N6055W, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while near Panhandle, Texas. According to eyewitnesses the aircraft which was spraying herbicide onto the field, was observed complete a spray run, exit the field, and initiated a climbing tight right turn to re-enter the field. During the tight steep turn the aircraft was observed to enter a nose low attitude and descend into the ground and came to rest on an adjacent field. The leading edges of both wings were compressed to the main spar. The empennage and tail section remained intact, although sustained structural damage. The aircraft did not hit wires or any other objects. There was no post fire. The pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (vmc/vfr) prevailed for the aerial application. The airplane was registered to and operated by stamps spraying service, inc., of Panhandle, TX. (.4) on JULY17, 2000, at 1945 CDT, an air tractor AT-401 agricultural airplane, N6055W, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while manuevering near Panhandle, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by stamps spraying service, inc. of Panhandle, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorolical conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations (crr) part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the operator's private grass airstrip. According to the operator, the airplane was fueled, loaded with an herbicide chemical, and departed to spray a field. When the pilot arrived at the field, he radioed back to the operator and stated that he was worried about chemical drift due to the wind speed and direction. A few minutes later, the pilot radioed the operator again and stated that he would commence spraying the field. According to witnesses, the airplane was spraying chemical prior to the accident. One witness reported that the airplane was making a climbing turn and then nose dived into the ground. Another witness stated that he observed the airplane make one pass, initiate a "pull-up", and enter a right bank. He added that the airplane "did not pull out of the right bank and nose dived into the ground". According to the FAA inspector and a representative from air tractor, inc. who examined the airplane at the site, teh airplane came to rest at north 034 degrees 00.000 minutes latitude and west 068 degrees 54.375 minutes longitude. The engine and propeller were embedded within the initial crater, and teh propeller blades exhibited "s" type bending. Two ground scars consistent with the shape of the leading edge of the wings were observed emanating outward from the crater. The cockpit and cabin area was destroyed by impact forces and the leading edges of both wings were compressed rearward to the main spar. Aileron control continuity was established from the control surface to the inboard section of each wing. Further continuity for the ailerons was precluded by impact damage to the fuselage and cockpit area. The empennage remained intact, although it sustained structural damage. Control continuity for the rudder was established from the rudder pedals to the control surface. Control continuity for the elevators was precluded due impact danage, although continuity for the elevator trim system was established between the cockpit and the elevator trim tabs. An unidentified substance, which resembled pipe insulation,was installed between the elevators and the stabilizers as a gap seal. The flap actuator was located and the jackscrew was extended between 3.5 and 3.75 inches, which is consistent with the flaps being extended between 25 and 26 degrees. According to data that was extracted from a satloc GPS unit which was found at the accident site, the majority of turns had diameters measuring approx. 1,000 feet. The last tunr recorded on the unit revealed that the airplane completed 230 degrees of a turn and the turn had a diameter of 660 feet. The data stops at a location near the accident site on a heading of approx. 280 degrees. An autopsy was performed on the deceased pilot by the lubbock county medical examiners office, lubbock, Texas. Toxicological testing performed by the faa's civil aeromedical institute, Oklahoma city, Oklahoma, revealed that there was putrefaction of the body and 50MG/DL, mg/hg of ethanol detected in the kidney, 10MG/DL, mg/hg of acetaldehyde detected in the kidney, and 1 mg/dl, mg/ hg detected in the kidney. The toxicological tests were negative for drugs.