# NTSB CEN09CA194: Air Tractor AT-502B, N648LA, Harrold, SD, March 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 6, 2009, 11:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Harrold, SD - Coordinates: 44.52222, -99.738891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5222&lon=-99.7389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during his turn to reverse course due to weather. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility at the time of the accident. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had been established in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level for the approximately 45-minute cross-country flight. As he neared the destination airport, he descended to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) in order to view some winter wheat fields for the upcoming agricultural spraying season. As he leveled off, he observed increasing fog along his route of flight. He began a 180-degree turn to reverse course and intended to divert to an intermediate airport when the airplane impacted a high-tension power line. The airplane severed one of the lines and subsequently impacted an adjacent farm field. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the collision with the power line. The pilot report weather conditions at the time of the accident as an obscured ceiling about 800 feet agl, with 2 miles visibility in fog. Winds were light and variable, and there was no precipitation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he had been established in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level for the approximate 45-minute cross-country flight. As he neared the destination airport, he descended to about 100 feet above ground level (agl) in order to view some winter wheat fields for the upcoming agricultural spraying season. As he leveled off, he observed increasing fog along his route of flight. He began a 180-degree turn to reverse course and intended to divert to an intermediate airport when the airplane impacted a high-tension power line. The airplane severed one of the lines and subsequently impacted an adjacent farm field. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the collision with the power line. The pilot reported weather conditions at the time of the accident as an obscured ceiling about 800 feet agl, with 2 miles visibility in fog. Winds were light and variable, and there was no precipitation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N648LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N648LA), registered now, S/N 502B-0649, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0649 - Airframe hours: 2092 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2008 - Departed: Y14, Tea, SD - Destination: 5G3, Harrold, SD - Airport: 5G3, Harrold ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 9,045 total, 10 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: PIR, 20 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 20090306009949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090306009949A), Mar 6, 2009: Airtrc AT502B, Holabird, SD, Destroyed. (-23) On March 6, 2009 at approx 1115CDT, a 2002 air tractor model AT-502B registered to custom air inc. struck power lines and crashed while returning from… 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.