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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 15, 2007 · Air Tractor AT-301 · N8841S

Lignite, ND

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Lignite, ND
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-301
Tail Number
N8841S
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI07CA209

The airplane contacted the ground and power lines following a loss of control during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that prior to spraying, he circled the field four or five times waiting for traffic to clear on a nearby road. He stated he also dropped smoke to make sure the chemical would not drift toward the road. The pilot reported that during the last circle the airplane started to settle until it contacted the terrain. The airplane then bounced and contacted the power lines. The airplane settled back to the ground, and slid across a ditch and the road before coming to rest in a grove of trees. The pilot reported that the airplane most likely contacted a vortex which resulted from the circles he made around the field. In addition, the pilot reported that he did not dump the chemical load when the airplane first started to settle toward the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's poor in-flight planning and failure to maintain control of the airplane when he encountered his own vortex turbulence at a low altitude.

Full Narrative

The airplane contacted the ground and power lines following a loss of control during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that prior to spraying, he circled the field four or five times waiting for traffic to clear on a nearby road. He stated he also dropped smoke to make sure the chemical would not drift toward the road. The pilot reported that during the last circle the airplane started to settle until it contacted the terrain. The airplane then bounced and contacted the power lines. The airplane settled back to the ground, and slid across a ditch and the road before coming to rest in a grove of trees. The pilot reported that the airplane most likely contacted a vortex which resulted from the circles he made around the field. In addition, the pilot reported that he did not dump the chemical load when the airplane first started to settle toward the ground.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-301
Tail NumberN8841S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R-1340 · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data