Air Tractor AT502 N6082B

Summary

On 16 August 2017 at about 11:13 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N6082B, operated by Midway-Air, was involved in an accident near Philipp, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 August 2017 at 11:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Philipp, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

33.7572, -90.2589

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N6082B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Midway-Air

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minter City → Minter City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ERA17FA279

1 person died.

The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, below a low overcast ceiling, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the operator, the airplane was supposed to spray a cornfield located about 5 miles southeast of the airstrip. The operator added that the clouds were low at the time of departure but that the forward visibility was good. Review of data from a GPS recovered from the wreckage revealed that for the approximate 2-minute accident flight, the airplane flew southeast at GPS altitudes between 250 to 350 ft. The last recorded data point was just before a tree line, indicating a GPS altitude of 315 ft and a groundspeed of 123 knots. The airplane subsequently struck the trees and an approximate 50-foot debris path at a descending angle was oriented about a magnetic course of 130°. The recorded weather at an airport located about 18 miles southeast of the accident site, about 30 minutes after the accident, included an overcast ceiling at 400 ft. There was no record of the pilot receiving a weather briefing from flight service. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. It is likely that the pilot attempted to maintain visual flight and stay below the clouds, which left him little room to maneuver and resulted in impact with trees and terrain. Review of medical information did not identify any significant medical conditions for the 28-year-old pilot. The toxicology identified that the pilot had used a sedating antihistamine, diphenhydramine, at some point before the accident but the blood level was too low to quantify; it is unlikely that effects from the pilot's use of this drug contributed to his decision to attempt flight in instrument conditions. While the autopsy report is unavailable, there is nothing to suggest it would identify further relevant conditions. Overall, the limited available medical evidence does not indicate a medical condition or use of medication contributed to this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.