# Accident 20161018016779A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Paragould, AR, October 18, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 18, 2016, 09:50 local time
- Place: Paragould, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2DKG
- Location: 36.0267° N, 90.4442° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0267&lon=-90.4442&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4218E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4218E-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502B (registry code 0390307, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (registry code 52251, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161018016779A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 18, 2016 AT 0950 CDT, AN AIR TRACTOR 502B, N4218E, REGISTERED TO CARDINAL AIR, LLC, STRUCK POWER LINES WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION, MADE CONTACT WITH A LEVEE COLLAPSING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND STRIKING THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEVEE AND CAME TO REST IN A COMMERCIAL FISH POND. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS ON OCTOBER 18, 2016 AT 0930 CDT.

CAUSAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT STATED THAT HAD COMPLETED FIVE SPRAYING SWATHS OF A SALT MIXTURE OVER A RICE FIELD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT THE WIND CONDITION WAS LIGHT-TO-CALM WHEN HE DEPARTED; HOWEVER, THE WIND SPEED INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AS THE FLIGHT CONTINUED. HE REPORTED HAVING TO INCREASE THE RADIUS OF HIS TURNS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED AND GUSTY WIND CONDITION AND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AIRCRAFT WEIGHT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE DUE TO GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. DURING ONE OF THE TURNS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE PILOT REDUCED PITCH TO INCREASE AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY DESCENDED THROUGH A POWER LINE STRIKING THE RIGHT WING AND CRASHED INTO A CATFISH POND.  THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES OR FAILURES WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (BUMPS, ACHES, PAINS, POSSIBLE NECK STRAIN). HE CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS WEARING A HELMET AND HIS SAFETY RESTRAINTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS WEARING CONTACT LENSES DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

## 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 GAA17CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA030), Oct 18, 2016: Air Tractor AT 502 (N4218E), Paragould, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to avoid electrical wires during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a wire strike.

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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