# Accident 20181012019789A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Placedo, TX, October 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2018, 16:00 local time
- Place: Placedo, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 28.7058° N, 96.8044° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7058&lon=-96.8044&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6135P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6135P-2020-05-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502B (registry code 0390307, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7,115 total, 400 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019789A

## Narrative

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

DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OF HERBICIDE PILOT STRUCK A RADIO TOWER, IMPALLING THE TOP 15 FOOT SECTION INTO THE AIRCRAFT WITH SUBSEQUENT FIRE AND UNCONTROLLED CRASH

## 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 CEN19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA003), Oct 12, 2018: Air Tractor AT502 (N6135P), Placedo, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered…

## Other reports on N6135P (1)

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

- [Accident 20170702010799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170702010799A), Jul 2, 2017: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B (N6135P), Edna, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was spraying a field and setting up for his next run while looking for a young boy who was outside on a previous trip. Pilot wanted to make sure and not…

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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