# Accident 20030814020789A: Airtrc AT301, Aplington, IA, August 14, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2003, 17:00 local time
- Place: Aplington, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PKJG
- Location: 42.5869° N, 92.8753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5869&lon=-92.8753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4339S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4339S-2004-02-21) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA261) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030814020789A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS SPRAYING A FIELD NEAR APLINGTON, IOWA, AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 LOCAL TIME ON AUGUST 14, 2003. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE FIELD FROM THE NORTH, IT STRUCK THE TOP OF A POWER LINE POLE TAKING APPROXIMATELY 1-2 FEET FROM THE TOP OF THE POLE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO THE SOUTH FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 CHI03LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA261), Aug 14, 2003: Air Tractor AT-301 (N4339S), Aplington, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining proper altitude/clearance from the wire during the aerial application flight. The factor to the accident was the power line.

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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