Air Tractor AT-602 N5123L

Summary

On 8 August 2011 at about 12:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N5123L, operated by M & J Bailey Inc, was involved in an accident near Willcox, Arizona, 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

8 August 2011 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Willcox, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.2333, -109.8833

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N5123L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

M & J Bailey Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kansas Settleme → Kansas Settleme

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR11LA375

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the pilot was performing a calibration pass on the target field at an altitude of about 60 feet above ground level when the airplane struck an unmarked 80-foot-tall tower. The airplane's engine lost power, and during the forced landing, the airplane struck a fence, which damaged the left wing. According to the pilot, the tower had recently been installed without his knowledge.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.