Air Tractor AT-402 N4555E

Summary

On 29 March 2016 at about 22:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402 registered N4555E, operated by Ranspot Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Beyersville, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 2016 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Beyersville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.5033, -97.2397

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402

Registration

N4555E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1991

Engines

1

Operator

Ranspot Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burlington → Beyersville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA139

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation from the power line due to a lack of identifiable and contrasting features, which led to an inflight collision with the line while maneuvering in gray, hazy conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before conducting the aerial application flight, the pilot circled the application site four times in order to identify obstructions. He saw power line poles on the east and west sides of the field, but he did not see an older, unmarked power line pole in the middle of the field, nor the associated powerline that ran across the field. The pilot began the application, and, during the fourth pass, the right wing impacted the powerline. The pilot stated that it was a gray and hazy day, which made the power pole and line difficult to see, and he also stated that he was unfamiliar with the application site. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.