- Date
- June 9, 2019, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Ward, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2602MAir Tractor AT 602
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190609006259A
- Case key
- 99657
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 a wire during an aerial application flight in sun glare conditions.
Findings · 3
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, while the airplane was between about 15 and 40 ft above ground level and traveling westward with the sun in his eyes, the rudder struck a wire and separated. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot added that he thought the airplane had already cleared the wire when the collision occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. 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 reported that, during an aerial application flight, about 15 to 40 ft. agl and traveling westward with the sun in his eyes, the airplane's rudder struck a wire and separated. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot added that he thought the airplane already cleared the wire when the collision occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2602M
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 602-0645
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 10,989.2
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT-6A, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 22, 2019
- Departed
- TX0 · La Ward, TX
- Destination
- TX0 · La Ward, TX
- 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 6, 2017
- Seat
- Single
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Observed at
- KPSX, 10 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 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.