Air Tractor AT-402A N9089L

Summary

On 3 July 2004 at about 01:05 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402A registered N9089L was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2004 at 01:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsboro, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Lawrence County Airport (9A4)

Coordinates

34.6333, -87.2000

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402A

Registration

N9089L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Courtland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ATL04CA146

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in collision with transmission wires.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane collided with the top wire of a transmission tower that "was not visible to [him]." He stated that the airplane spun around 180 degrees to the left, the airplane "was out of control," collided with the ground, and came to rest inverted in a nearby field. Examination of the wreckage site revealed the wreckage debris path extended across the field a distance of 75 feet leading up to the main wreckage site. The tower arm of the transmission tower, that was estimated to be 100 feet high, was bent, and the upper transmission wire was separated. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine assembly separated from the engine mounts. The propeller hub was separated from the crankshaft. The engine cowling and fuselage were crushed aft to the pilot compartment. The right wingtip was separated. The leading edge of the right wing was crushed beginning about midspan outboard to the end of the wing. The left wing was partially separated at the root and completely separated approximately midspan. The left horizontal stabilizer leading edge was crushed aft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.