Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT-402 near Beyersville, TX — 2016-03-29

Final reportCEN16LA139
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Date
2016-03-29
Location
Beyersville, TX, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT-402
Registration
N4555E
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation from the power line due to a lack of identifiable and contrasting features, which led to an inflight collision with the line while maneuvering in gray, hazy conditions.

NTSB narrative

Before conducting the aerial application flight, the pilot circled the application site four times in order to identify obstructions. He saw power line poles on the east and west sides of the field, but he did not see an older, unmarked power line pole in the middle of the field, nor the associated powerline that ran across the field. The pilot began the application, and, during the fourth pass, the right wing impacted the powerline. The pilot stated that it was a gray and hazy day, which made the power pole and line difficult to see, and he also stated that he was unfamiliar with the application site. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have circled the field more to identify the unmarked powerline.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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