Air Tractor AT-602 N4196K

Summary

On 18 May 2024 at about 18:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N4196K was involved in an accident near New Washington, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 2024 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

New Washington, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.9416, -82.8634

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N4196K

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bucyrus → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA220

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the aerial application airplane surveyed the field at a higher altitude prior to spraying. He determined that spraying north and south, while flying below high-tension lines, would require the least amount of maneuvering in the heavy airplane. The pilot flew the first pass uneventfully; however, during the second pass, the airplane’s rudder contacted a powerline. The rudder separated and the airplane landed sideways in the field, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.