- Date
- June 1, 2016, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Nicolaus, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5091NAir Tractor AT 502
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160601008519A
- Case key
- 93368
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 insufficient clearance from a power line during aerial application operations, which resulted in a power line strike, a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, loss of directional control, and collision with terrain.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while performing aerial application operations and flying under power lines, the airplane propeller struck a power line. Subsequently, the airplane vibrated excessively and the pilot performed an off-airport landing at a farm field. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, he could not maintain directional control of the airplane on the rough terrain; the airplane veered sharply to the right and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while performing aerial application operations and flying under power lines, the airplane propeller struck a power line. Subsequently, the airplane vibrated excessively and the pilot performed an off-airport landing at a farm field. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, he could not maintain directional control of the airplane on the rough terrain; the airplane veered sharply to the right and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5091N
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 502
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-0475
- Built
- 1997
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- FARM AIR Flying Service INC
- Registered owner
- FARM AIR Flying Service INC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 38CL · Verona, CA
- Destination
- 38CL · Verona, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- KLHM, 10 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 575 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.