# Accident 20020620017219A: Airtrc AT301, Westmorland, CA, June 20, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 20, 2002, 02:00 local time
- Place: Westmorland, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 33.0383° N, 115.5644° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0383&lon=-115.5644&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8719S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8719S-2013-08-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA203) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020620017219A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX02LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA203), Jun 20, 2002: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8719S), Westmorland, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. A factor was the dark night condition.

## Other reports on N8719S (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19880721027799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880721027799A), Jul 21, 1988: Airtrc AT301 (N8719S), Niland, CA, Substantial damage. Struck powerlines while turning to look for flagman after takeoff from a unimproved uninspected railroad strip.
- [Incident 19800822077149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800822077149I), Aug 22, 1980: Airtrc AT301 (N8719S), Idaho Falls, ID, Minor damage. Struck power line obscured by trees while spraying.

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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