# NTSB GAA17CA030: Air Tractor AT 502, N4218E, Paragould, AR, October 18, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2016, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Paragould, AR
- Coordinates: 36.026668, -90.444168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0267&lon=-90.4442&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94245/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94245
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA030

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to avoid electrical wires during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a wire strike.

## 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: 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)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; 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)
- [Mental/emotional state: stress](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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: 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)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while in a left turn during an aerial application flight the airplane encountered a gust of wind and began to "shake", so he leveled the wings momentarily before continuing the turn. He further reported that he was looking at the field instead of where he was turning and when the airplane was 30-50 feet above the ground he looked up and saw electrical wires. The right wing tip struck the electrical wires and the airplane made a forced landing in a nearby pond. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage. The pilot also reported that during the day of the accident he was under stress and his head was "in another place". The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while in a left turn during an aerial application flight the airplane encountered a gust of wind and began to "shake", so he leveled the wings momentarily before continuing the turn. He further reported that he was looking at the field instead of where he was turning and when the airplane was 30-50 feet above the ground he looked up and saw electrical wires. The right wing tip struck the electrical wires and the airplane made a forced landing in a nearby pond. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage. The pilot also reported that during the day of the accident he was under stress and his head was "in another place". The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4218E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4218E-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 502B-2701, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 (B)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502B-2701
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 3528
- Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: DKD Flying Service, doing business as Three Rivers Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Cardinal Air LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 2016
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,600 total, 750 in this make and model, 4,570 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KJBR, 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 20161018016779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161018016779A), Oct 18, 2016: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Paragould, AR, Substantial damage. On October 18, 2016 at 0950 CDT, an Air tractor 502B, N4218E, registered to cardinal Air, LLC, struck power lines while conducting aerial application, made…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94245. 968 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458997&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 531 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.

---
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.