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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 12, 1998 · Air Tractor AT502B · N6037N

Bainbridge, GA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 12, 1998
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Bainbridge, GA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT502B
Tail Number
N6037N
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL99LA009

The pilot stated that he was starting his day spraying the same field he had sprayed the afternoon before, and did not expect to find the irrigation system parked in line with the power lines that separated the field. The system is always parked out into the field toward the south, so that the pilot could work under the power lines. A witness that was approximately 100 yards from the collision, was watching the Ag airplane, stated that the irrigation system was used that night and was moved to the north side of the field and oriented east-west. It was parked along and parallel to the power lines. The airplane exited the north side of the field and turned 180 degrees to start spray pattern from the north. The pilot was spraying at 10 feet off the operation when the airplane collided with a standing irrigation system located on the same field, and subsequently hit the ground and burst into flames. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout which resulted in a collision with an irrigation unit located in the field.

Full Narrative

On October 12, 1998, at 0710 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT502B, N6037N collided with an irrigation system during an aerial application swath run near Bainbridge, Georgia. The aerial application flight was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident with no flight plan filed. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight's departure time from Bainbridge, Georgia, was at 0707 on the same day. The pilot stated that he was starting his day by spraying the same field he had sprayed the afternoon before, and did not expect to find the irrigation system parked in line with the power lines that separated the field. The system is always parked out into the field toward the South, so that the pilot could work under the power lines. The irrigation system operator, an eyewitness, was approximately 100 yards from the collision. The irrigation operator stated that the irrigation system was used the night before and was moved to the north side of the field and was oriented on east-west directions. It was parked along and parallel to the power lines. The airplane exited the north side of the field and turned 180 degrees to start spray a pattern from the North. The pilot was flying 10 feet above the ground, and had planned to fly under the power lines. The pilot was in the climb out phase of the operation when the airplane collided with the standing irrigation system located on the same field. The airplane subsequently hit the ground and burst into flames (see attached witness statement). The pilot and the irrigation system operator agreed that better communication with each other could have prevented this accident. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:10 EDT
Nearest AirportBainbridge (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT502B
Tail NumberN6037N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6-34 A6 · Turboprop · 750
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 50
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:10
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data