Air Tractor AT 502 N7314D

Summary

On 9 April 2019 at about 15:33 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N7314D, operated by Rowland Dusters, was involved in an accident near Harlingen, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 2019 at 15:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Harlingen, Texas, United States

Coordinates

26.2925, -97.7650

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N7314D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1987

Engines

1

Operator

Rowland Dusters

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raymondville → Raymondville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19FA117

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines during low altitude flight operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to a sedating medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an agricultural flight when witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude before it collided with power transmission lines and terrain. The airplane was destroyed during a postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing detected the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in the pilot’s blood. Considering that postmortem redistribution of diphenhydramine may result in central levels being two-to-three times higher than peripheral levels, the circulating level was likely in the therapeutic range at the time of the accident. Given the pilot’s years of experience and familiarity with the agricultural airplane, it is reasonable to consider diminished reaction times and flying performance attributable to the use of sedating medication likely contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.