Air Tractor AT-802A N9078G

Summary

On 10 August 2008 at about 11:35 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N9078G, operated by Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Turton, South Dakota, 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

10 August 2008 at 11:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Turton, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

45.0431, -98.1028

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N9078G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Huron → Turton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CHI08CA246

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the starter generator which resulted in the subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the low altitude at which the airplane was operating, the tall grass, and the ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 500 feet above ground level, the radios began "popping and breaking squelch." He stated that he realized the generator system failed and approximately 30 seconds later, the engine began to lose power. He advanced the throttle and turned back toward the departure airport. The pilot stated the engine then began to vibrate and rapidly lose power. The pilot dumped the chemical load and identified a road on which to land. During the landing, the left wing caught in the tall grass alongside the road, spinning the airplane around and into a ditch. Inspection revealed the starter generator failed which was followed shortly thereafter by the loss of engine power. The pilot reported the starter generator was on fire after the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.