- Date
- June 21, 2014, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Newport, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N428JJAir Tractor AT 402B
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 14, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20140621008429A
- Case key
- 89523
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 misjudged his altitude which resulted in the airplane contacting a wire during the low altitude aerial application maneuver.
Findings · 4
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 accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot made the first spray pass over the field during which he flew under a wire at the end of the field. He stated he flew under the wire to avoid spraying chemical on a neighboring field. The pilot stated that he misjudged his altitude as he entered the field for the second pass, again flying under the wire, and the top of the vertical stabilizer contacted the wire. A piece of the vertical stabilizer separated from the airplane. The rudder was bent and partially detached from the vertical stabilizer. The airplane nosed down, impacted the terrain, and slid about 200 yards prior to coming to rest. The pilot stated there were no pre-impact mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot made the first spray pass over the field during which he flew under a wire at the end of the field. He stated he flew under the wire to avoid spraying chemical on a neighboring field. The pilot stated that he misjudged his altitude as he entered the field for the second pass, again flying under the wire, and the top of the vertical stabilizer contacted the wire. A piece of the vertical stabilizer separated from the airplane. The rudder was bent and partially detached from the vertical stabilizer. The airplane nosed down, impacted the terrain, and slid about 200 yards prior to coming to rest. The pilot stated there were no pre-impact mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N428JJ
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 402B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1307
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Charles Bell, Jr
- Registered owner
- Bell Flying Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Newport, AR
- Destination
- Newport, AR
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
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Center
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 2,200 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 350 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- M19
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 836 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.