# NTSB CEN16LA139: Air Tractor AT-402, N4555E, Beyersville, TX, March 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2016, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Beyersville, TX - Coordinates: 30.503334, -97.239723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5033&lon=-97.2397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 26, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation from the power line due to a lack of identifiable and contrasting features, which led to an inflight collision with the line while maneuvering in gray, hazy conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Light condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before conducting the aerial application flight, the pilot circled the application site four times in order to identify obstructions. He saw power line poles on the east and west sides of the field, but he did not see an older, unmarked power line pole in the middle of the field, nor the associated powerline that ran across the field. The pilot began the application, and, during the fourth pass, the right wing impacted the powerline. The pilot stated that it was a gray and hazy day, which made the power pole and line difficult to see, and he also stated that he was unfamiliar with the application site. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2016, about 1730 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-402, N4555E, stuck a wire/power line and impacted terrain during an aerial application of a field near Beyersville, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by Ranspot Flying Service under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the operator's private airstrip near Burlington, Texas about 1600. The pilot stated that the accident flight was the second and last aerial application for the day. The pilot circled the last field to be sprayed four times looking for obstructions and saw powerline poles on the east and west sides of the field, but he did not see an older unmarked powerline pole in the middle of the field. He said that it was gray and hazy day which contributed to making the older powerline pole difficult to see. The pilot sprayed the field in a north/south direction and during the fourth spray pass, the airplane struck the older powerline pole with the right wing, began a right spiral descent, and impacted the ground in a level attitude. The pilot applied full left rudder in an attempt to stop the spin and impact the ground in a level attitude. The pilot felt that with the haze and unfamiliarity of the field, another one or two circles of the field could have possibly led to his identifying the older powerline pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4555E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4555E-2019-03-09), registration cancelled 2019-03-09, S/N 402-0811, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-402 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (registry code 0390205) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-0811 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 7647.9 - Engines: Pratt&Whitney PT6A-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ranspot Flying Service - Registered owner: Individual - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2016 - Departed: PVT, Burlington, TX - Destination: Beyersville, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2014; seat: center; flight hours: 9,500 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 9,300 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 24 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 20160329002959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160329002959A), Mar 29, 2016: Air Tractor Inc AT-402, Taylor, TX, Destroyed. At approximately 1730 hours the operator was exiting the field where he was conducting aerial application of a fungicide. He struck the power line on the north… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92942. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.