# NTSB CHI03LA124: Air Tractor AT-602, N5192T, Benkelman, NE, May 14, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 2003, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Benkelman, NE
- Coordinates: 40.066112, -101.534446
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0661&lon=-101.5344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA- Lincoln FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA124

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance while maneuvering.  Contributing factors were the wheat crop and the ground.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane impacted terrain while maneuvering.  The pilot reported the right boom contacted the wheat crop during an aerial application pass.

## Factual narrative

On May 14, 2003, about 1630 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5192T, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Benkelman, Nebraska.  The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot was uninjured.  The local flight originated from the Jones Airport, Benkelman Nebraska about 1610.

The pilot stated the right spray boom of the airplane contacted a wheat crop during an aerial application pass.  The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain.

The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions with respect to the airplane or its systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5192T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5192T), registered now, S/N 602-0527 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-602
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-66-series) (registry code 52118, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 602-0527
- Airframe hours: 2050
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Frost Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2003, 75 hours before
- Departed: 42V, Benkelman, NE
- Airport: 42V, Jones Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 2, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 10,500 total, 900 in this make and model, 10,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: IML, 27 nm away

## 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 20030514013159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030514013159A), May 14, 2003: Airtrc AT602, Benkelman, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) On last pass to finish the spray load, the pilot allowed the right wing boom to become entangled with the wheat crop causing the aircraft to impact the…

## Other investigations on N5192T (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 CEN09LA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA401), Jun 30, 2009: Air Tractor AT-602 (N5192T), Knobel, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the P-3 tube resulting in the loss of engine power.

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.

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