# NTSB CEN13CA019: Air Tractor AT-502B, N598LA, Portales, NM, October 17, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2012, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Portales, NM
- Coordinates: 34.171665, -103.158889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1717&lon=-103.1589&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: LBB FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85390/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85390
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA019

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was maneuvering the airplane above a crop field during an aerial application flight. Upon entering the field from the south, the pilot misjudged the airplane’s distance from power lines and struck a power line. He subsequently lost control of the airplane, which impacted terrain and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane or engine.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot was maneuvering the airplane above a crop field during an aerial application flight. Upon entering the field, the pilot misjudged the distance and struck a power line. He subsequently lost control of the airplane, impacted terrain, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N598LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N598LA), registered now, S/N 502B-2598 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502B-2598
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: King Ag Leasing Inc
- Registered owner: King Ag Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Departed: Portales, NM
- Destination: Portales, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 30,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 30,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: KCVS, 12 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 20121017023699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121017023699A), Oct 17, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Portales, NM, Substantial damage. On October 17, 2012, at approximately 16:04CDT, an Air tractor AT-502, N598LA struck power lines while conducting aerial agriculture spray operations. The…

## Other investigations on N598LA (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN26LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA118), Feb 12, 2026: Air Tractor AT-502B (N598LA), Sulphur, LA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85390. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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