- Date
- August 22, 2009, 09:07 local (14:07 UTC)
- Place
- East Grand Forks, MN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4516KAir Tractor AT-502
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090822048939A
- Case key
- 74587
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 maintain clearance with the crops while maneuvering at low altitude.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude on an agricultural application flight when the right wing contacted the crops during a turn. He was unable to recover and subsequently impacted the terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged. He noted that he had lost track of the airplane's altitude as he was referencing some charts in an attempt to locate the correct field to be sprayed. He added that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering at low altitude on an agricultural application flight when the right wing contacted the crops during a turn. He was unable to recover and subsequently impacted the terrain. He noted that he had lost track of the airplane's altitude as he was referencing some charts in an attempt to locate the correct field to be sprayed. He added that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4516K
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502-0097
- Airframe hours
- 18,742
- Engine
- P&W Canada PT6A-60A, 1,050 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Agrimax LLC
- Registered owner
- Agrimax LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2009
- Departed
- MN81 · East Grand Fork, MN
- Destination
- MN81 · East Grand Fork, MN
- Airport
- MN81 · JJ and T
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
- 33
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2008
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 2,752 total · 589 in this make and model · 78 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- GFK, 7 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 927 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4516K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.