- Date
- May 31, 2019, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Rockford, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N60518Air Tractor AT502
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190531005509A
- Case key
- 99529
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 clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.
Findings · 2
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, during an agricultural application flight, he flew under power lines, climbed, and then made a 180º left turn to the south for another low-level pass. While approaching the field, the airplane struck the power lines and then impacted terrain. The pilot added that he forgot the wires were there and did not see them on the pass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during an aerial application flight, he flew under power lines, climbed, and made a 180º left turn to the south for another low-level pass. While he approached the field, the airplane struck the power lines and impacted terrain. The pilot added that he forgot the wires were there and did not see them on the pass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and tailcone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60518
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT502 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-0346
- Built
- 1996
- Airframe hours
- 8,261
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6-34AG, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Neal Aircraft Inc
- Registered owner
- Neal Aircraft Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 11, 2019
- Departed
- VNW · Van Wert, OH
- Destination
- VNW · Van Wert, OH
- Equipment
- None
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
- 45
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 21, 2018
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 2,684 total · 1,122 in this make and model · 2,273 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 22.7 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Observed at
- KVNW, 15 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB 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.