Air Tractor AT 502 N4218E

Summary

On 18 October 2016 at about 14:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N4218E, operated by DKD Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Paragould, 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

18 October 2016 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Paragould, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

36.0267, -90.4442

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N4218E

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

DKD Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA030

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to avoid electrical wires during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a wire strike.

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 a left turn during an aerial application flight the airplane encountered a gust of wind and began to "shake", so he leveled the wings momentarily before continuing the turn. He further reported that he was looking at the field instead of where he was turning and when the airplane was 30-50 feet above the ground he looked up and saw electrical wires. The right wing tip struck the electrical wires and the airplane made a forced landing in a nearby pond. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage. The pilot also reported that during the day of the accident he was under stress and his head was "in another place". The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.