What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 12, 2009 at approximately 1600 local an air tractor AT-402A, N50956, serial # 402A-1076 was fertilizing a field approximately 4 NM se or Weona, AR. After completing the second run of the application the aircraft turned north and encountered a tailwind gust coming off storms to the south. The aircraft banked left and nosed down and just before ground impact (approximtely 5 feet AGL) the aircraft's left wing struck a tree. The aircraft came to rest facing northeast. As a result of the crash, the tail section and engine departed the aircraft. There was no post impact fire and the commercial rated pilot was not injured. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations part 137 agricultural aerial application flight under visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 12, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 LOCAL AN AIR TRACTOR AT-402A, N50956, SERIAL # 402A-1076 WAS FERTILIZING A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 4 NM SE OR WEONA, AR. AFTER COMPLETING THE SECOND RUN OF THE APPLICATION THE AIRCRAFT TURNED NORTH AND ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND GUST COMING OFF STORMS TO THE SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT BANKED LEFT AND NOSED DOWN AND JUST BEFORE GROUND IMPACT (APPROXIMTELY 5 FEET AGL) THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING NORTHEAST. AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, THE TAIL SECTION AND ENGINE DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE AND THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.