# NTSB CEN21LA354: Air Tractor AT-502, N1519U, Wooster, OH, August 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 4, 2021, 10:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Wooster, OH - Coordinates: 40.8051, -81.9351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8051&lon=-81.9351&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103629/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103629 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA354 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently collided with powerline wires during an agricultural spraying flight, resulting in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent impact with the ground. ## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-502, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was conducting an aerial application flight and was spraying his third field of the day when while maneuvering to make his next pass under high-tension powerlines he heard a “pop” and the airplane pitched up and started to “fishtail”. The pilot pitched the airplane down to regain control and attempted to maneuver to an open field to land the airplane. The airplane rolled and it felt as if the right wing stalled. The airplane then struck the wires next to the road and cartwheeled into the yard on the opposite side of the street. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, both wings, the aft fuselage, and empennage. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1519U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1519U-2023-12-26), registration cancelled 2023-12-26, S/N 502-0154, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0154 - Year built: 1991 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Carlson Production Services LLC, doing business as Carlson Ag Aviation - Registered owner: Carlson Production Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: BJJ, Wooster, OH - Airport: BJJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: single; flight hours: 1,037 total, 310 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KBJJ, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KBJJ 041356Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 22/13 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP204 T02220128= ## 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 20210804014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210804014189A), Aug 4, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Wooster, OH, Destroyed. Pilot was spraying field and maneuvering above roadway powerlines and below the high-tension powerlines. During a manuever below high tension powerlines, pilot… ## Other investigations on N1519U (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 SEA08CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA113), Apr 27, 2008: Air Tractor AT-502 (N1519U), Waitsburg, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the rising terrain. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103629. 395 KB in all. - Accident photo (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13547470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20array%20template-Rel.pdf - Memorandum - pilot interview by FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13547661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM-Rel.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.