# NTSB MIA98LA175: Air Tractor AT-502, N7318K, Clewiston, FL, June 2, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1998, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Clewiston, FL
- Coordinates: 26.749437, -80.929512 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7494&lon=-80.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38531/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA175

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing for takeoff.

## Analysis

The pilot stated that as he was taxiing out for takeoff, crossing a culvert, he was too close to the edge of the culvert. The dirt edge collapsed and the right main landing gear slid into the ditch.

## Factual narrative

On June 2, 1998, at about 1450 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N7318K, registered to LTI Aviation Services Inc., operated by Air Crop Care Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, slid into a ditch while taxiing for takeoff in the vicinity of  Clewiston ,  Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane sustained substantial damage.  The commercial pilot reported no injuries.  The flight was originating from a road at the time of the accident .

Witnesses and the pilot stated, he taxied too close to the edge of a culvert that was crossing the road.  The edge of the dirt next to the culvert collapsed and the airplane slid into the ditch.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7318K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7318K-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 502-0008, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502-0008
- Airframe hours: 4823
- Engines: P&W PT6-34 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Air Corp Care Inc.
- Registered owner: Lti
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1997, 138 hours before
- Departed: N/A, CLEWSTON, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,625 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 5,625 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 55 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 19980602024209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980602024209A), Jun 2, 1998: Airtrc AT502, Clewiston, FL, Substantial damage. Taxied too close to edge of culvert. Dirt collapsed and aircraft slid into ditch. Taking off from road.

## Other investigations on N7318K (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 MIA03LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA088), Apr 8, 2003: Air Tractor 502 (N7318K), Belle Glade, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to use on-board communication radios to advise takeoff and landing intentions, the reduction of visibility of the pilot-in-command of N6037H due to sun glare during…

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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