Air Tractor AT-402B N402BT

Summary

On 12 June 2008 at about 20:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402B registered N402BT was involved in an accident near Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 June 2008 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Northwest Alabama Regional (MSL)

Coordinates

34.7453, -87.6103

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402B

Registration

N402BT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rogersville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA08CA137

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from utility wires during low altitude maneuvers.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of an Air Tractor AT-402B stated that he was making east and west passes above a cornfield, maneuvering under power lines at one end. On his last pass, the vertical stabilizer contacted a power line, shearing the upper section of the stabilizer and the entire rudder. The pilot was able to land the airplane at a nearby airport without further incident. The pilot further stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.