Air Tractor AT 802 N20361

Summary

On 17 January 2017 at about 23:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N20361 was involved in an accident near Vernon, Utah, 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

17 January 2017 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Vernon, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.0244, -112.5322

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N20361

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nephi → Nephi

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA117

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted to transition a mountain ridge after he had completed an aerial application. He added that he began to climb to a safe altitude in rising terrain but realized that it was going to be "close to clear" the mountain top. He attempted to turn to the left but noted that the terrain would not allow him to do so. He continued straight ahead and impacted the mountain top about 10 ft from the crest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.