ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 44497
Last updated: 17 January 2021
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| Date: | 19-MAY-2005 |
| Time: | 09:44 |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-602 |
| Owner/operator: | Mcadoo Flying Service Inc. |
| Registration: | N9017Z |
| C/n / msn: | 602-0546 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Ralls, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Crosbyton, TX (8F3) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
The 21,000-hour pilot had completed his second aerial application on an area of trees, and was en route back to the airport. While maneuvering, the airplane struck a 197-foot high tower. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain, where a post impact fire ensued. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the collision with the tower. Examination of the airplane and accident site revealed that the outboard portion of the right wing was separated and found adjacent to the base of the tower. The top three feet of the tower was severed and had yellow paint transfer consistent with the color of the airplane. The tower was erected 15 days prior to the accident and was of an unpainted metal color. The tower was also not equipped with an obstruction light. A weather observation system approximately 29 miles northwest of the accident site reported an overcast cloud ceiling at 25,000 feet.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower. Contributing factors were the recency of the tower's construction and the lack of obstruction lights on the tower.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20050525X00663&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 06-Dec-2017 08:12 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
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