Pilot Debrief

Air Tractor AT-502 near Waitsburg, WA — 2008-04-27

Final reportSEA08CA113
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Date
2008-04-27
Location
Waitsburg, WA, USA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-502
Registration
N1519U
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the rising terrain.

NTSB narrative

After arriving at the steep hillside field to which he was going to apply chemicals, the pilot maneuvered at low level over the field in an attempt to determine the best pattern to fly to accomplish the job. During that process he inadvertently allowed the airplane to get into a position from which it was not able to climb over the rising terrain. Although he dumped his chemical load and leveled the airplanes wings, the airplane impacted the terrain about 75 feet below the top of a ridge.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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