# NTSB CEN22FA347: Air Tractor AT502, N501MW, Ute, IA, July 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: July 30, 2022, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ute, IA - Coordinates: 42.021303, -95.710542 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0213&lon=-95.7105&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: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Air Tractor - NTSB case key (mKey): 105624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22FA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA347 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inflight collision with a power line during aerial application. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis While conducting an aerial application flight, the airplane’s left wing contacted a power line on the western edge of the field. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground nose-low and a postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2022, about 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502A airplane, N501MW, was destroyed when was involved in an accident near Ute, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. The airplane was applying chemicals to a field. The airplane struck a wire on the western edge of the field and subsequently impacted terrain. A postcrash fire ensued. There are no known witnesses to the accident. No ADS-B data was located for the accident flight. Toxicology was conducted on samples from the pilot. Testing was negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol. Loratadine and desloratadine were detected which are a nonprescription sedating antihistamine used to treat allergies. The airplane wreckage came to rest on a paved road, upright, facing a magnetic heading of 130°. The field that the pilot was spraying was to the east of the accident site and was bordered on three sides by power lines. Damaged power lines were located on the western edge of the field. Portions of the left wing were scattered around the powerlines and to the north of the wreckage. The airplane engine was driven near vertical into the edge of a paved road about 7 yards west of the damaged powerlines. A post-impact fire consumed a majority of the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. Figure 1 Accident Site (Photo from Monona County Sheriff's Office) Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N501MW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501MW-2023-01-26), registration cancelled 2023-01-26, S/N 502A-3232, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT502 (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502a) (registry code 0390306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-140ag) (registry code 51800, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502A-3232 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 748.5 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-140AG 867 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Midwest Custom Ag Aviation, doing business as Midwest Custom Ag Aviation - Registered owner: Bank Of Utah Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2022 - Departed: KMEY, Mapleton, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,900 total, 1,370 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KDNS, 15 nm away - METAR: KDNS 301755Z AUTO 21008G15KT 180V240 9SM CLR 27/15 A3016 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220730007609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220730007609A), Jul 30, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-502A, Ute, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Left wing struck known object causing the aircraft to spin shaprply left and impact the ground. Post impact fire destroyed aircraft, pilot fataly injured. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105624. 10.1 MB in all. - Examination notes (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14636814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Notes%20CEN22FA347-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14636751&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%204%20CEN22FA347-Rel.pdf - Email concerning crack (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14636681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20concerning%20crack%20in%20wing_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Sun position (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14637037&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sun%20Position-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 9 photos, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14636441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20fa347_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 686 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14636369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Tox_Redacted-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.