- Date
- October 1, 2013, 21:30 local (Oct 2, 2013, 04:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wellton, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N402TRAir Tractor AT 402B
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 19, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FDSO
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- Case key
- 88172
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s distracted attention and failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering in dark night conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was reading a map in an effort to identify the correct field to spray while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night conditions. While maneuvering in a turn the pilot did not realize the airplane was descending and subsequently collided with terrain. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was reading a map in an effort to identify the correct field to spray while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night conditions. While maneuvering in a turn the pilot did not realize the airplane was descending and subsequently collided with terrain. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N402TR
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 402B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1216
- Built
- 2009
- Airframe hours
- 3,094
- Engine
- P&W PT 6-34 AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Tri Rotor Spray And Chemical Inc
- Registered owner
- Tri Rotor Spray And Chemical Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 16, 2013 · 68 hours before
- Departed
- Somerton, AZ
- Destination
- Wellton, AZ
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Center
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,500 total · 3,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 705 KB in all.