# NTSB GAA19CA453: Air Tractor AT 502, N15400, Stanton, TX, July 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2019, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Stanton, TX - Coordinates: 32.201389, -101.688613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2014&lon=-101.6886&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 April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA453 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99932/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99932 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA453 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [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) ## 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he had reconnoitered the area of operation, but on the last pass, the airplane struck an unseen wire. He recalled that "the airplane's right wing was trying to drop," and he tried to keep the airplane level, but the right wing collided with the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled and then came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. 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, he had reconnoitered the area of operation, but on the last pass, the airplane struck an unseen wire. He recalled that, "the airplane's right wing was trying to drop," and he tried to keep the airplane level, but the right wing collided with the ground and the airplane cartwheeled before it came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15400](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15400-2021-09-14), registration cancelled 2021-09-14, S/N 502-0174, built 1992 (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: 502-0174 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 10628.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aurora Cooperative Elevator, doing business as Plains Aerial Application Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2019 - Departed: STANTON, TX - Destination: STANTON, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 14, 2018; seat: single; flight hours: 1,580 total, 650 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KBPG, 3 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 20190724015029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190724015029A), Jul 24, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Big Spring, TX, Substantial damage. On July 24, 2019, at approximately 2:30 pm local time, N15400, an Air tractor AT-502 struck a guy wire and impacted the ground approximately 15 miles west of… ## Other investigations on N15400 (1) 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. - [NTSB DFW07LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA165), Jul 20, 2007: Air Tractor AT-502 (N15400), Slaton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: An uncontained failure of the turbine engine's power section for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99932. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 280 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.