Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR INC AT 402A near Fort Pierre, SD — 2015-09-04

Final reportGAA15CA251
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Date
2015-09-04
Location
Fort Pierre, SD, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR INC AT 402A
Registration
N321DA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in the airplane striking guy-wires during aerial application operations.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after conducting a pass over a field during an aerial application flight, he passed clear of a tower but did not see the tower support guy-wires and collided with them. He stated, "After the guy-wire impact there was an immediate sound of the engine starting to lose power and/or shut down." The pilot then performed an emergency landing on a gravel road without further incident. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the guy-wires during the aerial application flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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