Air Tractor AT 502 N5091N

Summary

On 1 June 2016 at about 18:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N5091N, operated by FARM AIR Flying Service INC, was involved in an accident near Nicolaus, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 2016 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Nicolaus, California, United States

Coordinates

38.9111, -121.5594

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N5091N

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

FARM AIR Flying Service INC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Verona → Verona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA303

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's insufficient clearance from a power line during aerial application operations, which resulted in a power line strike, a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, loss of directional control, and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while performing aerial application operations and flying under power lines, the airplane propeller struck a power line. Subsequently, the airplane vibrated excessively and the pilot performed an off-airport landing at a farm field. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, he could not maintain directional control of the airplane on the rough terrain; the airplane veered sharply to the right and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.