What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 20, 2002, approximately 0200 pacific daylight time, an air tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8719S, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering near Westmorland, California. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by val air co. inc. of brawley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed a private airstrip near brawley at 0100. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the operator reported the pilot was spraying a 70 acre alfalfa field from west to east, starting on the north side of the field. Power lines, approximately 40 to 60 feet high, bordered the south side of the field. On the next to the last pass, the pilot pulled up out of the field, and during his turn to reverse direction, the airplane's left wing struck the power lines. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain and a post-crash fire ensued. This accident did not involve a NMAC. (.19) on June 20, 2002, approximately 0200 pacific daylight time, an air tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8719S, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering near Westmorland, California. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by val air co. inc. of brawley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed a private airstrip near brawley at 0100. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the operator reported the pilot was spraying a 70 acre alfalfa field from west to east, starting on the north side of the field. Power lines, approximately 40 to 60 feet high, bordered the south side of the field. On the next to the last pass, the pilot pulled up out of the field, and during his turn to reverse direction, the airplane's left wing struck the power lines. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain and a post-crash fire ensued.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 20, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 0200 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE, N8719S, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED POWER LINES AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR WESTMORLAND, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY VAL AIR CO. INC. OF BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BRAWLEY AT 0100. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, THE OPERATOR REPORTED THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A 70 ACRE ALFALFA FIELD FROM WEST TO EAST, STARTING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. POWER LINES, APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 FEET HIGH, BORDERED THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. ON THE NEXT TO THE LAST PASS, THE PILOT PULLED UP OUT OF THE FIELD, AND DURING HIS TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED TERRAIN AND A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED. THIS ACCIDENT DID NOT INVOLVE A NMAC. (.19) ON JUNE 20, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 0200 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE, N8719S, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED POWER LINES AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR WESTMORLAND, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY VAL AIR CO. INC. OF BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BRAWLEY AT 0100. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, THE OPERATOR REPORTED THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A 70 ACRE ALFALFA FIELD FROM WEST TO EAST, STARTING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. POWER LINES, APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 FEET HIGH, BORDERED THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. ON THE NEXT TO THE LAST PASS, THE PILOT PULLED UP OUT OF THE FIELD, AND DURING HIS TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED TERRAIN AND A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N8719S · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.