# NTSB GAA19CA452: Air Tractor AT 502, N1509E, Welsh, LA, July 24, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 24, 2019, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Welsh, LA
- Coordinates: 30.202222, -92.775001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2022&lon=-92.7750&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99931
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA452
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99931/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99931
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA452

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a telephone pole during an agricultural application flight.

## 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-502, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/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-502, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application low pass, he descended below the height of wires adjacent to the field. Shortly after, he saw a telephone pole and maneuvered the airplane to avoid the pole, but the airplane's left wing struck the top of the pole. The airplane rolled left and impacted the ground inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. 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 low pass, he descended below the height of the wires adjacent to the field. Shortly after, he saw a telephone pole and maneuvered the airplane to avoid the pole, but the airplane's left wing struck the top of the pole. The airplane rolled left through a tree and impacted the ground inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1509E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1509E-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 502-0145, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 502 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (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: 502-0145
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 8773.6
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 2019
- Departed: LS18, Welsh, LA
- Destination: LS18, Welsh, LA
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2018; seat: single; flight hours: 5,869 total, 1,849 in this make and model, 5,352 as pilot in command, 219 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KCWF, 19 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 20190724012519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190724012519A), Jul 24, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Roanoke, LA, Destroyed. Ag aircraft was spraying on edge of field when the pilot misjudged his altitude and struck leading edge of left wing tip with top of telephone pole. Aircraft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99931. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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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