Air Tractor AT-602 N8525L

Summary

On 26 July 2011 at about 12:05 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N8525L, operated by Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Drew, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2011 at 12:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Drew, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

33.8061, -90.4078

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N8525L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glendora → Drew

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA424

1 person died.

The pilot's improper decision to conduct a visual flight rules aerial application flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in flight collision with the ground while maneuvering.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot departed on an agricultural aerial application flight in instrument meteorological conditions. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing or filing a flight plan; however, company personnel stated that he obtained a computer weather briefing before departing. About 55 minutes after the flight’s departure, a friend of the pilot observed the airplane flying over a town about 7 miles from the crash site. He stated that the weather was very foggy. The wreckage was located about 13 minutes later in a rice field by a plantation employee. The employee and the plantation owner also stated that it was very foggy with about 150 feet forward visibility. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a left wing low, nose down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was not equipped for flight in instrument meteorological conditions. It is likely that the flight encountered dense fog, and the pilot lost visual reference outside and was unable to see the terrain prior to the airplane colliding with it.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.