Air Tractor AT-602 N9017Z

Summary

On 19 May 2005 at about 14:44 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N9017Z was involved in an accident near Ralls, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 2005 at 14:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Ralls, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.4675, -101.2928

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N9017Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crosbyton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05LA126

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower. Contributing factors were the recency of the tower's construction and the lack of obstruction lights on the tower.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 21,000-hour pilot had completed his second aerial application on an area of trees, and was en route back to the airport. While maneuvering, the airplane struck a 197-foot high tower. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain, where a post impact fire ensued. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the collision with the tower. Examination of the airplane and accident site revealed that the outboard portion of the right wing was separated and found adjacent to the base of the tower. The top three feet of the tower was severed and had yellow paint transfer consistent with the color of the airplane. The tower was erected 15 days prior to the accident and was of an unpainted metal color. The tower was also not equipped with an obstruction light. A weather observation system approximately 29 miles northwest of the accident site reported an overcast cloud ceiling at 25,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.