- Date
- September 6, 1999, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place
- Seminole, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5005GAir Tractor AT-502B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990906042699A
- Case key
- 47282
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 obstacle clearance.
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
The pilot was dispensing a pesticide to a cotton field. As the agricultural airplane was crossing over a set of power lines, it struck the top wire. The aircraft impacted the ground 'flat,' slid across a road, and came to a stop upright.
Factual narrative
On September 6, 1999, at 1035 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N5005G, was substantially damaged when it impacted a power line and terrain while maneuvering near Seminole, Texas. The aircraft was registered to Corning Farm Supply, Inc., of Corning, Arkansas, and operated by Addison Flying Service of Seminole, Texas. The commercial rated pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. 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 originated from the Gaines County Airport located near Seminole, at an unknown time.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he was dispensing a pesticide to a cotton field. As the aircraft was crossing over a set of power lines, it struck the top wire. The aircraft impacted the ground "flat," slid across a road, and came to a stop upright.
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that both main landing gear were separated, the firewall was damaged, and the tail section was partially separated just aft of the cockpit area. The propeller and both wing tips were also damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5005G
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-0399
- Airframe hours
- 1,467
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Addison Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Corning Farm Supply, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 10, 1999 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- 31F
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 15,560 total · 540 in this make and model · 15,400 as pilot in command · 400 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °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 N5005G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.