# NTSB MIA01LA205: Air Tractor AT-402A, N9072T, Whitakers, NC, July 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2001, 17:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Whitakers, NC - Coordinates: 35.899303, -77.55072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8993&lon=-77.5507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52948/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA205 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and the proper clearance from obstacles while conducting aerial applications, which resulted in an inflight collision with a power utility pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - utility pole - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot stated that it had been his eighth agricultural load of the day, and upon reaching the field to be treated he circled the field looking for obstructions as usual, and then began spraying operations. The pilot further stated that upon the third pass or swath the aircraft struck a power utility pole which was covered with vines, and located in a corner, surrounded by trees on two sides. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2001, about 1726 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc., AT-402A, N9072T, registered to, and operated by Air-Ag Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight, collided with a light pole, and crashed into a field in Whitakers, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, received serious injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The flight originated from Tarboro, North Carolina, the same day, about 1700. According to a deputy with the Nash County Sheriff's Office, the pilot stated that he was spraying a tobacco field, and after his fifth or sixth pass across the field, he hit a telephone pole, and possibly some wires. The deputy further stated that the pilot said he knew that the pole and wires were there, but he had forgotten, and saw them just prior to impacting them with his left wing. The deputy said that the aircraft was destroyed as a result of the impact. The pilot stated that it had been his eighth agricultural load of the day, and upon reaching the field to be treated he circled the field looking for obstructions as usual, and then began spraying operations. The pilot further stated that upon the third pass or swath the aircraft struck a power utility pole which was covered with vines, and located in a corner, surrounded by trees on two sides. The pilot said that the aircraft contacted the crop and ground within 100 feet after hitting the pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9072T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9072T-2005-03-22), registration cancelled 2005-03-22, S/N 402A-1114, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (registry code 0390206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402A-1114 - Airframe hours: 824 - Engines: P&W PT6A-11A6 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Air-Ag Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2000, 186 hours before - Departed: ETC, Tarboro, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 29, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 9,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 53 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 20010731019599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010731019599A), Jul 31, 2001: Airtrc AT402A, Whitakers, NC, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot was turning to make another pass when he hit a pole at the end of the field. (.19) on July 31, 2001, about 1726 eastern daylight time, an air… 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.