Air Tractor AT 802 N319BM

Summary

On 15 May 2017 at about 17:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N319BM was involved in an accident near Dumas, Texas, 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

15 May 2017 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dumas, Texas, United States

Coordinates

35.9092, -102.0803

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N319BM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dumas → Dumas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA285

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude during an agricultural application flight, a wind gust lifted the right wing and the left wing descended striking the "wheat" crop. Subsequently, the airplane was "sucked" into the wheat, and it then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 4 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported that the wind was from 160° at 13 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.