- Date
- June 29, 1989, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Americus, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8773SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 11, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890629018329A
- Case key
- 7828
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly survey the area in which he would be conducting aerial application flights and his failure to see and avoid powerlines while performing aerial application.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was at the start of a swath run to spray a peanut field and contacted the lower three wires of power lines. Part of the left wing tip was severed and the acft made initial contact with the ground approximately 450 feet from the power lines. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the occurrence. Investigation revealed no indication of a system or mechanical malfunction. Autopsy/toxicology results were negative for alcohol, drugs, cyanide and other compounds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8773S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0189
- Airframe hours
- 2,921
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Jack Musselwhite
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 20, 1989 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- ACJ · Americus, GA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 4,550 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.