# NTSB DFW07CA123: Air Tractor AT-502B, N502DB, Banquete, TX, May 29, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2007, 05:15 local (10:15 UTC)
- Place: Banquete, TX
- Coordinates: 27.8013888888889, -97.805
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8014&lon=-97.8050&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: San Antonio, Texas
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65876/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA123

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission line(s).   A contributing factor was the low altitude selected by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - object - wire,transmission (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent

## Analysis

The single-engine agricultural airplane collided with a set of power transmission lines while performing an aerial application flight.  The 25,223-hour commercial pilot reported that while maneuvering underneath one set of power lines and over a second set of power lines, the airplane collided with the first set of power lines, separating the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.  The pilot attempted to control the airplane with power, elevator and ailerons but was not successful.  The pilot lost control of the airplane during the forced landing in an adjacent cotton field.  The airplane sustain structural damage and the pilot was not injured.  Weather at the airport was reported as winds calm, visibility 10 statute miles with clear skies, temperature 30 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 29.86 inches of Mercury.

## Factual narrative

The single-engine agricultural airplane collided with a set of power transmission lines while performing an aerial application flight.  The 25,223-hour commercial pilot reported that while maneuvering underneath one set of power lines and over a second set of power lines, the airplane collided with the first set of power lines, separating the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.  The pilot attempted to control the airplane with power, elevator and ailerons but was not successful.  The pilot lost control of the airplane during the forced landing in an adjacent cotton field.  The airplane sustain structural damage and the pilot was not injured.  Weather at the airport was reported as winds calm, visibility 10 statute miles with clear skies, temperature 30 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 29.86 inches of Mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N502DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N502DB-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 502B-0410, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502B
- Airframe hours: 6525.4
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Unk
- Registered owner: Nueces Agr Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006
- Departed: Banquete, TX
- Destination: Banquete, TX
- Airport: CRP, Corpus Christi Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; flight hours: 25,223 total, 11,000 in this make and model, 25,121 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KCRP

## 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 20070529010809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070529010809A), May 29, 2007: Airtrc AT502B, Robstown, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) While conducting aerial application operations, the pilot [privacy data omitted] misjudged the distance between two sets of power lines. The pilot…

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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