- Date
- September 21, 1996, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Mayersville, MS
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1517GAir Tractor 402
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 3, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960921029039A
- Case key
- 3762
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 misjudgment of his ground speed and distance to trees during the swath run, and his delayed pull-up at the end of the swath run, which resulted in his failure to remain clear of the trees. The tail wind and location of the trees were related factors.
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
At the end of a spray run, the airplane collided with trees, located in a densely wooded area, adjacent to the field being treated. According to the pilot's partner, the swath run was flown with a tailwind of about eight knots. The treated field was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in length. The aircraft manufacturer noted that in turbinr powered the airplane, spray runs were typically conducted at speeds of about 150 to 170 knots.
Factual narrative
On September 21, 1996, about 1515 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 402, N1517G, collided with trees during an aerial application swath run near Mayersville, Mississippi. The airplane was operated by Lake Washington Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the flight. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Glen Allan, Mississippi about 1430 on the same day.
According to the inspector who visited the accident site, the airplane collided with trees at the end of a swath run. The inspector, and the operator who has been an agricultural pilot for about 17 years, stated that they believed the airplane was conducting the spray swath downwind, with about an eight knot tailwind. They indicated in their respective reports that the airplane was scattered through a densely wooded area for about 800 feet. There was general disintegration of the airplane along the debris trail. According to the inspector, the propeller was heavily damaged indicative of high powered rotation during the impact sequence.
The aircraft manufacturer stated that, in the turbine powered airplane, spray runs are typically conducted about 150-170 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1517G
- Reported as
- Air Tractor 402
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4020834
- Airframe hours
- 2,333
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-27, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Lake Washington Flying Svc, In
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 14, 1996 · 445 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Glen Allan, MS
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 11,461 total · 1,030 in this make and model · 11,402 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 120 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GLH, 45 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.