# Accident 20080612839389A: Airtrc AT402B, Muscle Shoals, AL, June 12, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 12, 2008, 15:30 local time
- Place: Muscle Shoals, AL
- Airport: Northwest Alabama Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 34.7453° N, 87.6103° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7453&lon=-87.6103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N402BT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402BT-2025-07-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402B (registry code 0390208, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT402B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 19,000 total, 457 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA08CA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080612839389A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED HE WAS WORKING A CORN FIELD FLYING EAST AND WEST UNDE A POWER LINE AND THE LAST PASS HE WASN'T LOW ENOUGH AND THE LINE CUT THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OFF AND DETACHED THE RUDDER.  HE THEN STEERED THE AIRCRAFT USING ENGINE POWER AND AILERON INPUT AND LANDED AT THE NORWEST REGINAL AIRPORT MUSCLE SHOALS, ALABAMA (MSL).  AFTER LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED INTO THE GRASS HIT A SIGN AND SHEARED OFF THE SPRAY EQUIPMENT.

## 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 MIA08CA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA137), Jun 12, 2008: Air Tractor AT-402B (N402BT), Muscle Shoals, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from utility wires during low altitude maneuvers.

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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