# NTSB ATL99LA009: Air Tractor AT502B, N6037N, Bainbridge, GA, October 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1998, 07:10 local (11:10 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Location: 30.9049° N, 84.5730° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bainbridge, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9049&lon=-84.5730&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout which resulted in a collision with an irrigation unit located in the field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - object - other (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was starting his day spraying the same field he had sprayed the afternoon before, and did not expect to find the irrigation system parked in line with the power lines that separated the field. The system is always parked out into the field toward the south, so that the pilot could work under the power lines. A witness that was approximately 100 yards from the collision, was watching the Ag airplane, stated that the irrigation system was used that night and was moved to the north side of the field and oriented east-west. It was parked along and parallel to the power lines. The airplane exited the north side of the field and turned 180 degrees to start spray pattern from the north. The pilot was spraying at 10 feet off the operation when the airplane collided with a standing irrigation system located on the same field, and subsequently hit the ground and burst into flames. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 1998, at 0710 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT502B, N6037N collided with an irrigation system during an aerial application swath run near Bainbridge, Georgia. The aerial application flight was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident with no flight plan filed. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight's departure time from Bainbridge, Georgia, was at 0707 on the same day. The pilot stated that he was starting his day by spraying the same field he had sprayed the afternoon before, and did not expect to find the irrigation system parked in line with the power lines that separated the field. The system is always parked out into the field toward the South, so that the pilot could work under the power lines. The irrigation system operator, an eyewitness, was approximately 100 yards from the collision. The irrigation operator stated that the irrigation system was used the night before and was moved to the north side of the field and was oriented on east-west directions. It was parked along and parallel to the power lines. The airplane exited the north side of the field and turned 180 degrees to start spray a pattern from the North. The pilot was flying 10 feet above the ground, and had planned to fly under the power lines. The pilot was in the climb out phase of the operation when the airplane collided with the standing irrigation system located on the same field. The airplane subsequently hit the ground and burst into flames (see attached witness statement). The pilot and the irrigation system operator agreed that better communication with each other could have prevented this accident. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6037N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6037N-2001-06-09), registration cancelled 2001-06-09, S/N 502B-0264, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0264 - Airframe hours: 16855 - Engines: P&W PT6-34 A6 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Joseph C. Phillips - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Airport: BGE, Bainbridge ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 15,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 15 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981012028859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981012028859A), Oct 12, 1998: Airtrc AT502B, Bainbridge, GA, Destroyed. Acft was involved in aerial applicaiton when it struck an irrigation system. Pilot usually flies underneath electric utility wires in order to spray crops at… 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. --- 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.