# NTSB SEA76DYG03: EL Tomcat MK5A, N863Z, Moses Lake, WA, July 9, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1975
- Place: Moses Lake, WA · MOSES LAKE, WA
- Location: 47.1279° N, 119.2764° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Moses Lake, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1279&lon=-119.2764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA76DYG03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYG03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3074   75/7/9    MOSES LAKE,WA       EL TOMCAT MK5A      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0855                    N863Z               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 30, 3134 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            57 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MOSES LAKE,WA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      IN FLIGHT: EN ROUTE TO RELOADING AREA
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  731                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1200                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- FLYING AT 2FT ABOVE WHEAT FLD,CONTACTED CROP & FLIPPED OVR BEFORE STRIKING GND.NO MALFUNCTION FND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N863Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N863Z-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N C5003, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EL TOMCAT MK5A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19750709023409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750709023409A), Jul 9, 1975: Bell 47G, Moses Lake, WA, Substantial damage. Flying at 2FT above wheat fld,contacted crop & flipped ovr before striking gnd. No malfunction fnd.

## Other investigations on N863Z (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 MIA89LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA092), Feb 24, 1989: Bell 47G (N863Z), Oklawaha, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE HELICOPTER DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING ON THE BACK OF A TRUCK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN PERFORMING SIMILAR LANDINGS.

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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