Air Tractor AT 402B N428JJ

Summary

On 21 June 2014 at about 17:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 402B registered N428JJ, operated by Charles Bell, Jr, was involved in an accident near Newport, Arkansas, 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

21 June 2014 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Newport, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.5975, -91.2900

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 402B

Registration

N428JJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles Bell, Jr

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newport → Newport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA314

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot misjudged his altitude which resulted in the airplane contacting a wire during the low altitude aerial application maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot made the first spray pass over the field during which he flew under a wire at the end of the field. He stated he flew under the wire to avoid spraying chemical on a neighboring field.  The pilot stated that he misjudged his altitude as he entered the field for the second pass, again flying under the wire, and the top of the vertical stabilizer contacted the wire. A piece of the vertical stabilizer separated from the airplane. The rudder was bent and partially detached from the vertical stabilizer. The airplane nosed down, impacted the terrain, and slid about 200 yards prior to coming to rest. The pilot stated there were no pre-impact mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.