# Accident 20121017023699A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Portales, NM, October 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2012, 14:30 local time
- Place: Portales, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: K3AG
- Location: 34.1717° N, 103.1589° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1717&lon=-103.1589&mi=10
- Aircraft: N598LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N598LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502B (registry code 0390307, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 30,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121017023699A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN13CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA019), Oct 17, 2012: Air Tractor AT-502B (N598LA), Portales, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.

## Other reports on N598LA (1)

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

- [Accident 20260212000872A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260212000872A), Feb 12, 2026: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B (N598LA), Sulphur, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was performing aerial application work south of an non towered uncontrolled airport and was using airport to reload aircraft. Aircraft was returning…

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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