# NTSB WPR11LA375: Air Tractor AT-602, N5123L, Willcox, AZ, August 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2011, 05:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Willcox, AZ - Coordinates: 32.233333, -109.883331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2333&lon=-109.8833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA375 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower. ## 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-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Availability of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application flight, the pilot was performing a calibration pass on the target field at an altitude of about 60 feet above ground level when the airplane struck an unmarked 80-foot-tall tower. The airplane's engine lost power, and during the forced landing, the airplane struck a fence, which damaged the left wing. According to the pilot, the tower had recently been installed without his knowledge. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2011, approximately 0530 mountain standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5123L, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a tower while maneuvering near Willcox, Arizona. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. M and J Bailey, Inc., Dalhart, Texas, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the early morning aerial application flight, which had originated about 15 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that he was performing a calibration pass on his target field at an altitude of about 60 feet above ground level when the airplane struck an unmarked 80-foot-tall tower. The airplane's engine caught fire and lost power. During the forced landing sequence, the airplane struck a fence, which damaged the left wing. According to the pilot, the tower had recently been installed without his knowledge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5123L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5123L-2014-03-10), registration cancelled 2014-03-10, S/N 6020407, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-66-series) (registry code 52118, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6020407 - Airframe hours: 5296 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-66 SER 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: M & J Bailey Inc, doing business as Ag-Air LLC - Registered owner: M & J Bailey Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2011 - Departed: Priv, Kansas Settleme, AZ - Destination: Priv, Kansas Settleme, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 16,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 320° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SAD, 38 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 20110808017349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110808017349A), Aug 8, 2011: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Wilcox, AZ, Destroyed. Pilot was conducting agricultural spraying operations on a field near the crash site and collided with a known fixed 80 foot tower. Pilot said he was notified… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81445. 600 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Safety Alert - Meteorological Evaluation Towers (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Safety%20Alert%20-%20Meteorological%20Evaluation%20Towers-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.