# Accident 20200727008399A: Air Tractor Inc AT-401, Burlington, CO, July 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2020, 11:08 local time
- Place: Burlington, CO
- Airport: Kit Carson County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NMDG
- Location: 39.2994° N, 102.2708° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2994&lon=-102.2708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9190Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9190Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,880 total, 636 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA311) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200727008399A

## Narrative

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

PRIOR TO AERIAL APPLICATION, PIC STATED THAT HE PERFORMED SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE AREA TO SURVEY WAYPOINTS AND SEARCH FOR OBSTACLES. PIC NOTED THE TOWER LOCATION BUT DID NOT CONFIRM LOCATIONS FOR ALL THE GUY-WIRES. DURING AERIAL APPLICATION FLYING A SOUTH HEADING, AIRCRAFT STRUCK A GUY-WIRE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TOWER WITH RH WING TIP. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER TO A SW HEADING. HE THEN TRAVELED THROUGH A SINGLE POWER LINE RUNNING N/S ON THE W SIDE OF THE TOWER. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND CAUSING THE LANDING GEAR, ENGINE AND EMPENNAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE COCKPIT CAME TO A REST UPRIGHT AND INTACT AND FACING TOWARDS THE EAST. PIC SELF-EXTRACTED FROM COCKPIT AND WAS ABLE TO INFORM HIS BOSS OF THE ACCIDENT VIA CELL PHONE. PIC WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY GROUND AMBULANCE FOR TESTING AND OBSERVATION AND RELEASED. NO INJURIES REPORTED OTHER THAN MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES.

## 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 CEN20CA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA311), Jul 27, 2020: Air Tractor AT 401 (N9190Q), Burlington, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy-wires during low-altitude agricultural operations.

## Other reports on N9190Q (1)

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

- [Accident 19950822025429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950822025429A), Aug 22, 1995: Airtrc AT401 (N9190Q), Taft, TX, Destroyed. Second spray run. Looked back check coverage. Right wing struck static wires. Crashed.

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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