Air Tractor AT-802A N8522S

Summary

On 16 June 2013 at about 12:20 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N8522S, operated by Pioneer Agviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Minot, North Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 2013 at 12:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Minot, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Minot (MOT)

Coordinates

48.3903, -101.4994

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N8522S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pioneer Agviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minot → Minot

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA353

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the aerial application flight, the pilot pulled the airplane up over trees and felt a small bump. The pilot stated that he believed that the airplane had struck branches. The airplane flew straight for a couple of seconds and then started rolling left. The pilot applied full right aileron and full right rudder, but the airplane continued to roll left. The airplane then struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. Examination of accident site and airplane wreckage revealed that the left wing had struck a tree. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he was well rested and that the flying shift was during his normal working hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.