Air Tractor AT 502 N1546Z

Summary

On 14 May 2016 at about 18:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N1546Z, operated by Gerik Ag LLC, was involved in an accident near West, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 May 2016 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

West, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.8408, -97.0742

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N1546Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1992

Engines

1

Operator

Gerik Ag LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillsboro → Hillsboro

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA181

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid cellular tower guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After completing an aerial application flight, the commercial pilot was returning to the base airport over 15 nautical miles away when the airplane impacted terrain and was consumed by a postimpact fire. Although the wreckage was significantly fragmented and damaged by fire, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed cellular tower guy wire and right wing damage that was consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires while intentionally flying at a low altitude in visual meteorological conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.