Air Tractor AT-400 N36521

Summary

On 5 February 1993 at about 16:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-400 registered N36521, operated by Hudson Air Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near South Mills, North Carolina, 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

5 February 1993 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

South Mills, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

36.4396, -76.3200

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-400

Registration

N36521

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hudson Air Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elizabeth City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93LA056

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. FACTORS WERE THE TREES ADJACENT TO THE WHEAT FIELD, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING HERBICIDES ON A WHEAT FIELD. AT THE END OF A SPRAY PASS, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF SOME PINE TREES. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND IT NOSED OVER IN SOFT MUD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS OWN MISTAKE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED IN OVER 4 YEARS, THE PILOT HAD NOT COMPLETED A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW IN OVER 6 YEARS, AND THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED AN FAA MEDICAL CERTIFICATE IN OVER 3 YEARS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.