# NTSB FTW98LA383: Air Tractor AT-502B, N50620, Portales, NM, September 2, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1998, 17:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Portales, NM - Coordinates: 34.179359, -103.340087 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1794&lon=-103.3401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43848/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA383 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance during an aerial application. Also causal was the inadvertent ground loop/swerve during the landing. ## 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 - other (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot was flying westbound into the sun (275 degrees, 7 degrees above the horizon) during an aerial application pass over a cotton field. There was a circular pivotal sprinkler system which extended from the northern center of the field to the southeast. The pilot said that he looked over to adjust his onboard global positioning system and he struck the sprinkler. The impact separated the left main landing gear and initiated a fire in the right hand forward part of the cockpit. The pilot landed the airplane in the adjacent peanut field and the airplane ground looped during the emergency landing attempt. The airplane was destroyed during the subsequent post landing fire. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1998, approximately 1740 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N50620, was destroyed by fire following an emergency landing near Portales, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, received minor injuries. The airplane was owned/operated by King AG Leasing Inc. under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight which originated approximately 25 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he had flown 7 or 8 east-west passes over a cotton field, and was flying westbound into the sun (266 degrees, 19 degrees above the horizon). He said that there was a circular pivotal sprinkler extending from the northern center of the field to the southeast. He was adjusting his onboard global positioning system (GPS) and when he looked up, "I was right at the sprinkler." He said that he "immediately pulled up elevator but still struck the sprinkler." The pilot stated that a fire broke out in the right hand forward part of the cockpit and he knew he had to get out as soon as possible. The pilot reported that the sprinkler impact had separated the left main landing gear and when he landed in the adjacent peanut field, the airplane ground looped to the left. He further stated that when the airplane came to rest, "I opened the left cockpit door and bailed out as quick as possible." The pilot received second degree burns on his right hand and arm, and first degree burns on his face. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50620](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50620-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 502B-0457, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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-0457 - Airframe hours: 780 - Engines: P&W PT6-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: King Ag Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: NONE, PRIVATE STRIP, TX - Destination: NONE, SUDAN, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 7,255 total, 750 in this make and model, 7,195 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 170 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CVN, 15 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 19980902022209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980902022209A), Sep 2, 1998: Airtrc AT502B, Portales, NM, Destroyed. Air tractor 502 acft was involved in aerial application when it lost control, crashed, and was destroyed. (-23)during aerial application this commercial 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. --- 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.