Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B near Hereford, TX — 2016-10-27

Final reportCEN17LA027
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Date
2016-10-27
Location
Hereford, TX, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B
Registration
N8525G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a cotton crop while maneuvering during agricultural application operations, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. The pilot stated that, while making a right turn and flying the airplane in a circular swath to "trim-up" on the outside edges of a center-pivot irrigated field, the right wingtip "got too far into the cotton crop" and that he subsequently lost airplane control. The airplane then impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, both wing spars, and all flight control surfaces. The accident is consistent with the pilot failing to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering during agricultural application operations.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the right turn that led to losing control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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