# NTSB CEN23LA311: Air Tractor AT-802, N22FK, Benson, MN, July 14, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 14, 2023, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Benson, MN · Cultivated field - Coordinates: 45.10089, -95.542383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1009&lon=-95.5424&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192646 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192646/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192646 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA311 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline. Contributing to the accident was the degraded visibility due to the smoke in the area. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/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: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the afternoon of the aerial application flight, the visibility was degrading due to smoke from nearby wildfires. Upon arrival at the target field, he circled twice to study the powerlines and obstacles, where he observed two distantly spaced power poles, and mistakenly thought they were termination points of a powerline. During the low-level aerial application pass, the airplane subsequently impacted a powerline as he flew between the power poles. The pilot returned to the airport and landed without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22FK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22FK), registered now, S/N 802-0965, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802) (registry code 0390305) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (registry code 52211, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802-0965 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 486.2 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-67AG 1350 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Fast Ag Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 28, 2023, 88.8 hours before - Departed: KBBB, Benson, MN - Destination: KBBB, Benson, MN - Airport: KBBB, Benson Municipal Airport, runway 14/32, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,704.9 in this make and model, 6,726.5 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 105.9 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KMVE, 11 nm away - METAR: KMVE 142135Z AUTO 32013G16KT 10SM CLR 29/15 A2976 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE ## 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 20230714008869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714008869A), Jul 14, 2023: Air Tractor Inc AT-802, Benson, MN, Substantial damage. While applying pesticide to a field the aircraft struck 2 power lines. The PIC did not notice anything abnormal with the aircraft, so he continued spraying… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192646. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16118476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16118342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.