Air Tractor AT-402A N9072T

Summary

On 31 July 2001 at about 21:26 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402A registered N9072T was involved in an accident near Whitakers, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2001 at 21:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Whitakers, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.8993, -77.5507

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402A

Registration

N9072T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tarboro → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA205

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and the proper clearance from obstacles while conducting aerial applications, which resulted in an inflight collision with a power utility pole.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that it had been his eighth agricultural load of the day, and upon reaching the field to be treated he circled the field looking for obstructions as usual, and then began spraying operations. The pilot further stated that upon the third pass or swath the aircraft struck a power utility pole which was covered with vines, and located in a corner, surrounded by trees on two sides.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.