# NTSB ERA13CA033: Air Tractor AT-502B, N502PB, Newton, GA, October 20, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 20, 2012, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Newton, GA
- Coordinates: 31.327222, -84.544441 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3272&lon=-84.5444&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85378/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85378
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA033

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering, which resulted in a hard forced landing.

## 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-502B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was performing an agricultural application over a cotton field bordered by a set of power lines. After making a pass over the field, the pilot ascended to fly over the power lines. While turning back toward the field, he “misjudged” the location of a static cable. The airplane’s main landing gear contacted the cable, and the airplane entered a rapid descent. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the cotton field, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was performing an agricultural application over a cotton field bordered by a set of power lines. After making a pass over the field, the pilot ascended to fly over the power lines. While turning back towards the field, he “misjudged” the location of a static cable. The airplane’s main landing gear contacted the cable, and the airplane entered a rapid decent. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the cotton field, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot report no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N502PB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N502PB), registered now, S/N 502B-0500, built 1998 (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 Canada PT6A-15AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-15ag) (registry code 52246, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502B-0500
- Airframe hours: 9059
- Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG 680 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Double R Flight Service Inc
- Registered owner: Double R Flight Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2012, 52 hours before
- Departed: Colquitt, GA
- Destination: Colquitt, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2012; seat: center; flight hours: 18,535 total, 1,576 in this make and model, 18,427 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KBIJ, 18 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 20121020024589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121020024589A), Oct 20, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Newton, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck upper tower ground wire with the left main gear and damaged the gear and broke the wire on the tower. The aircraft then stalled and headed for…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85378. 15.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Picture of Airplane at Accident Site - Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Picture of Airplane at Accident Site - Courtesy of FAA (item 7, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.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.

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