Air Tractor AT 502 N9143F

Summary

On 22 October 2019 at about 17:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N9143F, operated by Plains Aerial Applicators Inc., was involved in an accident near Lamesa, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 October 2019 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lamesa, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.7350, -101.7433

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N9143F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1992

Engines

1

Operator

Plains Aerial Applicators Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lamesa → Lamesa

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA013

Injuries not recorded.

The pilot's improper decision to maneuver at a low altitude and in close proximity to a wind turbine undergoing maintenance, which resulted in a collision with a tagline rope being held by a worker on the ground and serious injury to the worker.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning from a local aerial application flight when he decided to fly at low altitude past a wind turbine that he believed his friend was working on. The airplane's right wing collided with a tagline rope that was attached to one of the wind turbine blades and being held by a worker on the ground. The worker was thrown about 20 ft and sustained several fractured vertebrae and a broken leg. The airplane's right wing sustained minor damage; however, the pilot was able to make a normal landing at his intended destination without incident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.