# Accident 20190617007209A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402A, Liberal, KS, June 17, 2019 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 17, 2019, 11:48 local time - Place: Liberal, KS - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Other, Specify - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: O7RG - Location: 37.0431° N, 100.9211° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0431&lon=-100.9211&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5044Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5044Y-2021-01-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402A (registry code 0390206, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (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-402A - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 8,170 total, 746 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA352) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190617007209A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 17 JUNE 2019... MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DEPARTED MEJ AIRPORT TO SPRAY A PASTURE EAST OF LIBERAL, KANSAS. AWOS REPORTED WINDS 140-6KT, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30AM, CONDITION NECESSARY TO AVOID SENSITIVE CROPS. UPON ARRIVAL, PASTURE WAS CIRCLED TO OBSERVE OBSTACLES. ON THE 3RD PASS FROM THE EAST SIDE OF PASTURE FOLLOWING SATLOC A-B LINE NORTH, AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN ABANDONED GALVANIZED WINDMILL TOWER. TOWER WAS PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY SHADOW FROM CLOUD AND GENERAL DOWNHILL SLOPE OF PASTURE. THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS ON A SHED AND ELECTRICAL LINES. IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 3-4 FEET RIGHT OF FUSELAGE ON THE RIGHT WING. CHEMICAL SPRAYED ON WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS AND OBSCURED VISION. THE PILOT FELT AIRCRAFT PITCH UP SOME AND TRIED TO CORRECT SLIGHTLY BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. AIRCRAFT STRUCK AND FELT LIKE IT SLID, THEN REVERSED DIRECTION. AIRCRAFT STOPPED WITH PILOT'S LEG LIGHTLY PINNED BY CONTROL STICK. THE PILOT THEN SHUT MASTER SWITCH AND FUEL OFF, REMOVED SEAT AND SHOULDER HARNESSES AND HELMET AND EXITED ON TO THE LEFT WING. FUEL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LEAKING. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DIAL 911 WITH CELL PHONE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT WAS ABLE TO CALL THE OFFICE WHO ALERTED SEWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. POST-ACCIDENT VIEWING REVEALED PART OF THE RIGHT ELEVATOR WAS JUST NORTH OF TOWER, MOST OF THE REST OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR WERE DETACHED AT WRECK SITE. THE PILOT WILL BE COUNSELED BY THE OPS UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPLIANCE ACTION DOCUMENTS BY OPS UNIT. ## 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 GAA19CA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA352), Jun 17, 2019: Air Tractor AT402 (N5044Y), Liberal, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid a windmill tower while maneuvering at low altitude. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.