Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B near Enid, OK — 2018-06-19

Final reportCEN18FA232
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Date
2018-06-19
Location
Enid, OK, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B
Registration
N2063B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a known obstacle (communications tower) during agricultural spraying operations.

NTSB narrative

The agricultural airplane was dispatched to apply fertilizer to a nearby field that he had fertilized the previous day. One witness observed the airplane make 8-10 passes over the field then saw the airplane fly low, pop up, and make a turn. According to the witness, the airplane ran into the guy wire of a tower and then the airplane "twisted violently…and dropped straight down." The 405-ft-tall tower was properly painted and lighted and was marked on the sectional chart. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane struck the top portion of the tower and impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude. Detailed examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Toxicology testing detected doxylamine, a potentially impairing sedating antihistamine, in the pilot's blood and urine. While the detected level was within the normally sedating range, because doxylamine undergoes postmortem redistribution, levels in postmortem blood may be elevated above antemortem levels. Therefore, whether the pilot was impaired by the sedating effects of doxylamine at the time of the accident could not be determined. Additionally, the toxicology testing identified an antidepressant, citalopram, in the tested samples. Citalopram itself is not known to cause significant impairment but major depression can significantly affect judgment, response time, and executive functioning. However, because the pilot's health care prescriber could not be identified, the extent of any potential depressive symptoms at the time of the accident could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the tower during low passes over the field.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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