20020727016899A

(.19) On July 27, 2002, about 1130 mountain standard time, an air tractor AT-502, N293JK, collided with mountainous terrain approximately 13 miles southwest of san manuel, Arizona, while maneuvering in a box canyon. The airplane, operated by devil dusters, inc., of artesia, new Mexico, under the provisions of 14 CFR part 137 of the federal aviation regulations, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area aerial application flight that originated at san manuel at 1115. No flight plan was filed. In his written statement and in a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was seeding a fire devastated portion of the coronado national forest. On the accident flight he was applying seed in a box canyon area that he had been in numerous times over the past several days. Near the closed end of the canyon he began a course reversal turn. About halfway through the turn he experienced a rapid altitude loss he believes was associated with a downdraft coming over the mountain. He realized that the airplane was going to hit the side of the canyon and he stalled it into a flatarea. He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine during the accident. (-23) pilot was re-seeding trees in a canyon approximately 15 miles north of tucson, Arizona, at an altitude of approximately 5500 ft (AGL). He turned a/c 180 degrees to start his exit route out of the canyon. Strong downdraft wind conditions prevented him from exiting the canyon terrain and turning the a/c would have been fatal at this point. The pilot elected to purposely stall the a/c and contact the ground on a fairly level area. The pilot received serious injuries and was air-evaced to a tucson hospital. The a/c was destroyed. There was no fire and airman crockett was the only occupant.