# NTSB CEN13LA425: Air Tractor AT-400, N155HF, Steward, IL, July 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2013, 08:07 local (13:07 UTC) - Place: Steward, IL - Coordinates: 41.871112, -89.018333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8711&lon=-89.0183&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 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA DuPage FDSO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA425 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87528/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87528 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA425 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires during an aerial application maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify potential obstructions in the area before beginning low-altitude maneuvers. ## 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-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0390202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=0390202), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390202), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/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-400, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390202), [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-400, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he circled the field to check for obstacles before beginning to apply the agricultural product, but did not see any obstructions. He made the first aerial application pass without incident; however, during the second pass, the airplane hit guy wires "head on." The guy wires extended farther into the field than the pilot was accustomed to and can be difficult to see. The airplane impacted the cornfield, and the two adjacent towers were toppled by the impact with the guy wires. The pilot reported that there was no preaccident malfunction or system failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2013, about 0807 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400, N155HF, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a guy wire and subsequently impacted the terrain near Steward, Illinois. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to Woodley Aerial Leasing LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a local airstrip about 0740.The pilot reported that he circled the field to check for obstacles prior to beginning the application pass, but he did not see the guy wires reaching further into the field than he was normally accustomed. He made the first pass without incident, and then during the second pass the airplane hit the guy wires "head on." The airplane impacted the cornfield, and two towers were toppled by the impact with the guy wires. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N155HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N155HF-2015-09-14), registration cancelled 2015-09-14, S/N AT400-0488 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-400 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AT400-0488 - Airframe hours: 5826 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Timothy Malsberg - Registered owner: Woodley Aerial Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2013 - Departed: C73, Dixon, IL - Destination: C73, Dixon, IL - Airport: C73, Dixon Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2013; seat: center; flight hours: 8,651 total, 1,440 in this make and model, 8,651 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F - Observed at: 14 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 20130719012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130719012309A), Jul 19, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-400, Steward, IL, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed in corn field at approximately 08:07 CDT on July 19, 2013. According to state police first responder, jordan jackson, office: [privacy data… ## Other investigations on N155HF (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 FTW03LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA004), Oct 2, 2002: Air Tractor AT-400 (N155HF), Marmaduke, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing factor was the towering cumulus in all quadrants. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87528. 20.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photo 1. View of wreckage in a corn field. (item 3, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20wreckage%20in%20a%20corn%20field.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of cockpit and wings with a steel cable wrapped around the wreckage. (item 4, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20cockpit%20and%20wings%20with%20a%20steel%20cable%20wrapped%20around%20the%20wreckage.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of the propeller separated from the engine and laying in the corn field. (item 5, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20View%20of%20the%20propeller%20separated%20from%20the%20engine%20and%20laying%20in%20the%20corn%20field.%20-Master.PDF - Photo 4. View of an adjacent tower that was not damaged. (item 6, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20View%20of%20an%20adjacent%20tower%20that%20was%20not%20damaged.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. View of the two towers that collapsed. (item 7, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20View%20of%20the%20two%20towers%20that%20collapsed.-Master.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.