Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Lorida, FL
On September 21, 1995, an Air Tractor AT-502 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lorida, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 21, 1995
- Place
- Lorida, FL
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.291°N, 81.360°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04551
NTSB summary
On September 21, 1995, about 1244 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor 502, N1529E, registered to and operated by Glades Ag Service, Inc., crashed into Lake Istokpoga near Lorida, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated about 1245 from a private airstrip near Lake Placid, Florida. According to an employee of the operator, while loading the hopper with the engine operating, he observed that the fuel tank gauge in the cockpit indicated 1/4. He advised the pilot to refuel which is normally accomplished at the Sebring Airport, Sebring, Florida. The pilot advised him that he would spray only part of his load then fly to Sebring. The flight departed to spray a sod farm which was located south of Lake Istokpoga. A witness who was in a boat about 1 mile south of the crash site on the north side of the lake, observed the airplane spraying chemical over the lake. He then observed the airplane descend into the water. The airplane was located inverted in about 5 feet of water. Divers who recovered the pilot's body stated that the cockpit doors were open, the pilot's seat restraint was unlatched, and he was not wearing a helmet. According to the sheriff's department investigator, the seat restraint system is a four place, military style type. During recovery of the airplane the fuel tanks were drained using the sump drains and about 2 gallons of fuel and water were recover
Probable cause
MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT'S POOR DECISION TO FLY OVER WATER EN ROUTE TO THE REFUELING AIRPORT.
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Browse: Florida · Air Tractor aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
