- Date
- May 21, 2004, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brookland, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5013CAir Tractor AT-602
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040521009399A
- Case key
- 59288
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while maneuvering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After applying chemical to a field, the 5,400-hour pilot attempted to maneuver the turbine powered airplane under power lines. During the maneuver, the airplane's vertical stabilizer impacted the power line. The pilot initiated a climb to 200 feet in an attempt to locate a safe landing area. Subsequently, the pilot managed to land the airplane in a rice field without further incident.
Factual narrative
On May 21, 2004, approximately 1030 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 single-engine agricultural airplane, N5013C, was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight near Brookland, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Quinn Aviation Inc., of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed the Quinn Aviation private airstrip approximately 0900.
The 5,400-hour pilot reported that after applying chemicals to a field, he attempted to maneuver under power lines. During the maneuver, the airplane's vertical stabilizer impacted the power line.
The vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage and the rudder was partially separated. The pilot initiated a climb to 200 feet in an attempt to locate a safe landing area. Subsequently, the pilot managed to land the turbine powered airplane in a rice field without further incident.
The pilot confirmed that the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the right wing had incurred structural damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5013C
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-602
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 602-0428
- Airframe hours
- 3,388
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG, 1,173 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 137
- Registered owner
- Quinn Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 22, 2004 · 64 hours before
- Departed
- Jonesboro, AR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2003
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,400 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 5,400 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 7 knots, gusting 9
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5013C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.