Air Tractor AT-802A N8515G

Summary

On 1 May 2024 at about 13:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N8515G was involved in an accident near England, Arkansas, 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

1 May 2024 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

England, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.6036, -91.8818

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N8515G

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA175

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while performing aerial application work at a low altitude, he became distracted by looking at a map and not focused on a nearby tower with guy wires. When the pilot looked up, he realized he did not veer far and high enough away from the tower guy wires. The airplane struck the guy wires and impacted the terrain. 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 pilot reported that the accident might have been prevented if he had completed a better pre-application briefing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.