# NTSB CEN24LA175: Air Tractor AT-802A, N8515G, England, AR, May 1, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 1, 2024, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: England, AR - Coordinates: 34.603597, -91.881838 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6036&lon=-91.8818&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): 194206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194206/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194206 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390308), [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-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/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-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while performing aerial application work at a low altitude, he became distracted by looking at a map and not focused on a nearby tower with guy wires. When the pilot looked up, he realized he did not veer far and high enough away from the tower guy wires. The airplane struck the guy wires and impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the accident might have been prevented if he had completed a better pre-application briefing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8515G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8515G-2025-02-14), registration cancelled 2025-02-14, S/N 802A-0180, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0180 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 6185.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG 1450 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2024 - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2024; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,412 total, 258 in this make and model, 11,112 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLIT, 19 nm away - METAR: KLIT 011253Z 00000KT 10SM BKN250 21/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02110178 ## 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 20240501006269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240501006269A), May 1, 2024: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Blakemore, AR, Destroyed. On may 1st, 2024, at approximately 10:15 am, an AT-802A aircraft was conducting agricultural operations in a rectangular field with a half-moon shape on the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194206. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17192504&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17192653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17193023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Brickey-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17192537&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.