# Accident 20230725012309A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, Clara City, MN, July 25, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 2023, 08:30 local time
- Place: Clara City, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: ORWG
- Location: 45.0369° N, 95.4084° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0369&lon=-95.4084&mi=10
- Aircraft: N291DL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N291DL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402B (registry code 0390208, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG (registry code 52246, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-15ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 930 total, 117 in this make and model, 142 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA324) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230725012309A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 25, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 CENTRAL TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-402 DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRPORT AFTER BEING RELOADED TO PERFORM AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS TO CORN FIELDS IN THE AREA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS GONE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, WHICH WAS LONGER THAN THE OPERATOR ANTICIPATED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE GONE.  THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^OF THE 137 COMPANY TOOK OFF IN A SECOND AIRCRAFT TO BEGIN SEARCHING.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN A CORNFIELD. THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO 911 AND HIS EMPLOYEES.  THE 137 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FIRST ON SCENE.  THE PIC OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HAD ATTEMPTED TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL UNDER HIS OWN POWER.  THE PIC WAS AIRLIFTED TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN LEG, BROKEN RIBS, NECK INJURY AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING. ONE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE FAA ARRIVED ON SCENE FOR EXAMINATION.  THE RUDDER AND A PORTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND DIRECTLY UNDER A POWERLINE AND THE LOWEST LINE, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 35’ ABOVE THE GROUND. THE POWERLINE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED, BUT STILL CONNECTED.  THE CORN IN WAS APPROXIMATELY 10’ TALL LEAVING APPROXIMATELY 25’ TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE TOPS OF THE CORN AND THE LOWEST POWERLINE. THE RUDDER HAD DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH BEING CAUGHT IN THE POWERLINE AND BEING RIPPED OFF OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE FIRST POINT OF IMPACT IN THE CORNFIELD WAS APPROXIMATELY 365’ NORTH OF THE POWERLINE AND THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 555’ NORTH OF THE POWERLINE. THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND ONE BLADE BROKE OFF IN MULTIPLE PIECES.  THE LEFT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FROM THE WINGTIP INBOARD ABOUT 1/4 OF THE WINGSPAN.  THE LEADING EDGE OF APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF THE RIGHT WING WAS FOLDED DOWNWARD. THE LEFT SPRAY ARM WAS ALSO SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE REMAINDER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS REASONABLY INTACT. EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PIC SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.

AN AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 WITH NTSB, PRATT & WHITNEY, FAA AND AIR TRACTOR. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WERE FOUND THAT WOULD PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM BEING OPERATED. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE FUNCTIONAL AND THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER. THE PIC LOGBOOKS WERE INCOMPLETE AND FLIGHT TIMES ARE ESTIMATED.

## 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 CEN23LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA324), Jul 25, 2023: Air Tractor AT-402B (N291DL), Clara City, MN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line during an aerial application flight.

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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