# NTSB CEN25LA191: Air Tractor AT-401, N60057, Hamlet, NE, June 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2025, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Hamlet, NE · Accident site location was where the airplane struck the powerline. The airplane impacted the powerline (40.385247, -101.194831) about 1.82 nm east of Hamlet, Nebraska. The airplane then subsequently landed and came to rest (40.392839, -101.195678) about 0.46 nm north of the wire impact. - Coordinates: 40.385247, -101.19483 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3852&lon=-101.1948&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 January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during low altitude maneuvering. ## 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-401, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390204), [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-401, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390204), [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-401, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the agricultural airplane at a low altitude during an aerial application flight when the airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder struck power lines. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator were substantially damaged during the collision with the power lines. The pilot made an immediate landing in a nearby field due to the damaged flight controls and the airplane ground looped during the landing rollout. The pilot reported that before the airplane collided with the power lines there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60057](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60057), registered now, S/N 401-0951, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor Inc AT-401 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0951 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 2127.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-11AG turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Sunflower Aero Inc - Registered owner: Sunflower Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2025, 42 hours before - Departed: ADT, Atwood, KS - Destination: ADT, Atwood, KS - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Satellite tracking device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,054.7 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,054.7 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KIML, 21 nm away - METAR: METAR KIML 021453Z AUTO 19006KT 10SM CLR 24/17 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP065 T02390167 58002= ## 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 20250602004849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250602004849A), Jun 2, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-401, Hamlet, NE, Substantial damage. While conducting agricultural operations, the aircraft stuck a set of transmision power lines. Three power lines damaged the prop, windshield frame, horizontal… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200249. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19596817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB_Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19596827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.