# NTSB GAA16CA303: Air Tractor AT 502, N5091N, Nicolaus, CA, June 1, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2016, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Nicolaus, CA
- Coordinates: 38.911109, -121.559448 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9111&lon=-121.5594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93368
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93368/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93368
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA303

## 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

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5091N), registered now, S/N 502B-0475, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502
- 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-0475
- Year built: 1997
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; 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

## 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 20160601008519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160601008519A), Jun 1, 2016: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Nicolas, CA, Substantial damage. While crop dusting a rice field aircraft struck a high tension wire. Aircraft landed safely in an open field.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93368. 575 KB in all.

- FAA Photos (item 1, .PDF, 2 photos, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photos-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation 1 (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%201%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation 2 (Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%202%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF

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.

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