Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT-400 near Balko, OK — 2013-08-05

Final reportCEN13FA465
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Date
2013-08-05
Location
Balko, OK, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT-400
Registration
N3159B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot's failure maintain clearance from a meteorological tower while en route at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was en route from a private airstrip to a nearby field to apply herbicide and flying about 150 feet agl, when the airplane struck a 197-foot meteorological tower (MET) about 35 feet from its top. A survey of the accident scene revealed that the sun was ahead of and to the right of the airplane's flight path and likely obstructed the pilot's ability to see the tower. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The NTSB recently concluded that, due to their rapid construction and lack of conspicuity, METs pose a threat to pilots who conduct low-altitude operations and recommended required registration, marking, and—where feasible—lighting of these structures in order to aid pilots in avoiding them.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the MET tower by maintaining a higher altitude.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents22

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