# NTSB GAA19CA354: Air Tractor AT 602, N2602M, La Ward, TX, June 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2019, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: La Ward, TX - Coordinates: 28.730556, -96.453613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7306&lon=-96.4536&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 August 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA354 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an aerial application flight in sun glare conditions. ## 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-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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-602, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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-602, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390309), [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-602, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2602M), registered now, S/N 602-0645, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0645 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 10989.2 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190609006259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190609006259A), Jun 9, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, La Ward, TX, Substantial damage. Operator was spraying a field east of hwy 72 which contained known wires. Pilot was trimming field and thought he had passed over wires, actually the wires… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99657. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot Record of Memorandum (item 1, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483971&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.