# NTSB FTW97LA127: Air Tractor AT-402, N1524R, Pine Bluff, AR, March 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 1997, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluff, AR - Coordinates: 34.210998, -92.009284 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2110&lon=-92.0093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20173/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA127 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid the tower. The proximity of the tower was a related factor. ## 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 - tower (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - use of inappropriate medication/drug, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The agricultural airplane was being flown to a field of winter wheat for application of fertilizer. When it was about 1/4 mile north of the field, the right wing of the airplane impacted an antenna tower. The outboard section of the right wing was severed by the impact, and the airplane then entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. According to the operator, the pilot was familiar with the area and had worked this field previously. Toxicology tests of the pilot's blood showed 0.642 mcg/ml fluoxetine (Prozac, an antidepressant), 0.676 mcg/ml norfluoxetine (metabolite of fluoxetine), and an undetermined amount of tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (metabolite of marihuana) and phenylpropanolamine. Tests of his urine showed 0.020 mcg/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid and an undetermined amount of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine. Fluoxetine was not approved by the FAA for this pilot's use while flying. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 1997, approximately 1430 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-402 agricultural airplane, N1524R, registered to and operated by Jerry's Flying Service, Inc., of Wabbaseka, Arkansas, was destroyed following a collision with an antenna tower while maneuvering near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 local aerial application flight that departed from the operator's private airstrip near Wabbaseka, Arkansas, about 1425. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the operator reported that the pilot was probably aligning the airplane for his first pass to apply fertilizer to a field of winter wheat when the airplane's right wing impacted approximately 10 feet below the top of a 204 foot tall antenna tower. The tower was located approximately 1/4 mile north of the wheat field. The outboard section of the right wing was severed by the impact, and the airplane then collided with the ground. According to the operator, this was the pilot's first load of the day, and he was familiar with the area and had worked this field previously. A representative of the airframe manufacturer conducted an on scene examination of the accident site and reported that "about 1/2 of the right wing was found at the base of the antenna tower. The remainder of the airplane was found about 200 yards from the tower." The manufacturer representative interviewed a witness who observed the airplane hit the tower and subsequently impact the ground. The witness told the manufacturer representative that the airplane "never made any passes applying fertilizer and appeared headed to the field that he was to fertilize" when the accident occurred. The airplane was equipped with a Satloc GPS (global positioning satellite) receiver which was capable of recording the airplane's flight path on a removable data card. (Such a recording is made only when the flight logging function is activated by the pilot.) The data card was removed from the unit by the operator and forwarded to the NTSB. At the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the card was examined by Satloc personnel, and it was determined that the card held no flight log data. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Stephen A. Erickson, MD, at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 18, 1997. Postmortem toxicological tests performed by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute were positive for marihuana, fluoxetine (Prozac), salicylate (aspirin), ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (decongestants). Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (metabolite of marihuana) was detected in blood (unquantified) and in urine at 0.020 mcg/ml. Fluoxetine was detected in blood at 0.642 mcg/ml, in liver fluid at 1.639 mcg/ml, and in urine (unquantified). Norfluoxetine (metabolite of fluoxetine) was detected in blood at 0.676 mcg/ml, in liver fluid at 1.601 mcg/ml, and in urine (unquantified). Ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine were detected in blood, liver fluid, and urine (unquantified). Salicylate was detected in urine at 215.50 mcg/ml. The FAA Southwest Regional Deputy Flight Surgeon reviewed the toxicology report and stated that the fluoxetine and norfluoxetine "detected in blood, liver fluid, and urine are at six times therapeutic level. The drugs found in this case are capable of impairing the ability of the pilot to perform safety related duties." The flight surgeon further stated that these drugs are not approved by the FAA for use by pilots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1524R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1524R-1998-04-01), registration cancelled 1998-04-01, S/N 4020845 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (registry code 0390205) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-0845 - Airframe hours: 2415 - Engines: P&W PT6-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Jerry'S Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1997, 25 hours before - Departed: 5AR3, WABBASEKA, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,950 total, 2,431 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 6 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 19970317003269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970317003269A), Mar 17, 1997: Airtrc AT402, Pine Bluff, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tty (-23) air tractor AT-402, N1524R, was destroyed when it impacted and antenna tower while maneuvering for a pass to apply fertilizer to a field of winter… 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.