# NTSB CEN10CA445: Air Tractor AT-502B, N6030U, Zwingle, IA, July 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2010, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Zwingle, IA - Coordinates: 42.238609, -90.710281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2386&lon=-90.7103&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 December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Des Moines, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76800/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76800 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA445 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; 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) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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 reported that he was conducting agricutural spraying operations in the airplane when the accident occurred. He stated that he had completed a spray pass and made a turn for another pass. As he came out of the turn the airplane was heading west into the afternoon sun. The pilot stated that he misjudged the height of the top wire of poles along the edge of the field. After striking the wire he noted that he had almost no elevator control and executed a landing in a field. The airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot made no mention of control difficulties prior to striking the wire. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after an agricultural spraying run that he had completed, he made a turn for another pass. As he came out of that turn, the airplane was heading west into the afternoon sun. The pilot misjudged the height of the top wire of poles along the edge of the field. After striking the wire he noted that he had almost no elevator control and executed a landing in a field. The airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot made no mention of control difficulties prior to striking the wire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6030U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6030U-2013-11-08), registration cancelled 2013-11-08, S/N 502B-0323, built 1995 (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 PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0323 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A Series 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Klinkenborg Aerial Spraying & Seeding Inc - Registered owner: Klinkenborg Aerial Spraying & Seeding Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Zwingle, IA - Destination: Zwingle, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 1,900 total, 330 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DBQ, 10 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 20100728041519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100728041519A), Jul 28, 2010: Air Tractor AT-502B, Zwingle, IA, Destroyed. Pilot was conducting aerial spraying when the aircraft hit a power line. The impact with the power line caused damage to the aircraft elevator and forced the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76800. 29 KB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement-Redacted.PDF 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.