Air Tractor AT502 N500KA

Summary

On 16 August 2019 at about 18:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N500KA, operated by Wilbur Ellis Air Llc, was involved in an accident near Onida, South Dakota, 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

16 August 2019 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Onida, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

44.7078, -100.0617

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N500KA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Wilbur Ellis Air Llc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pierre → Pierre

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA502

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires during agricultural application operations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he attempted to fly the airplane underneath power wires, but the airplane struck one of the wires. The airplane descended into a cornfield and then came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.