Air Tractor AT-802A N42015

Summary

On 17 April 2011 at about 11:50 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N42015, operated by Frost Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas, 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

17 April 2011 at 11:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.9056, -90.3017

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N42015

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Frost Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Horseshoe Lake → Horseshoe Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA294

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tower due to his inadequate visual lookout.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While spraying a field, the pilot reversed direction for another pass. During the pass, the pilot misjudged his altitude and impacted a tower with the airplane's propeller and inboard section of the right wing. During the impact sequence the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator separated. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing to a cornfield. The airplane came to rest in an upright position in an irrigation canal. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.