20121017023699A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Air Tractor AT-502B · Portales, NM · October 17, 2012

Date: October 17, 2012 · 14:30 local
Place: Portales, NM
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: K3AG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N598LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13CA019
Reported as: Air Tractor AT-502B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 30,500 total3,000 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days

N598LARegistered now · Air Tractor AT-502BS/N 502B-2598 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-502B

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On October 17, 2012, at approximately 16:04CDT, an Air tractor AT-502, N598LA struck power lines while conducting aerial agriculture spray operations. The aircraft was approaching the field east of Portales, new Mexico from the south and struck the wires in a northerly direction. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight was conducted under title 14 CFR part 137 of the federal regulations.

As the FAA filed it

ON OCTOBER 17, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 16:04CDT, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-502, N598LA STRUCK POWER LINES WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL AGRICULTURE SPRAY OPERATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE FIELD EAST OF PORTALES, NEW MEXICO FROM THE SOUTH AND STRUCK THE WIRES IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN13CA019Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPortales, NMThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.Oct 17, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N598LA · 1

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

Accident 20260212000872ALanding: Approach · Sulphur, LAAircraft was performing aerial application work south of an non towered uncontrolled airport and was using airport to reload aircraft. Aircraft was returning unannounced to a non towered uncontrolled airport for resupply and was directly approaching runway to…Feb 12, 2026 · Substantial damage