Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Shelley, ID
On July 12, 1999, an Air Tractor AT-502 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Shelley, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 12, 1999
- Place
- Shelley, ID
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.339°N, 112.071°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19371
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 12, 1999, approximately 1040 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N90807, registered to and being operated by Queen Bee Air Specialties, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during an uncontrolled collision with terrain following an in-flight collision with trees while maneuvering. The aircraft crashed three nautical miles north-northwest of Shelley, Idaho, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was engaged in crop dusting over a potato field, was to have been operated under 14CFR137, and originated from Rigby, Idaho, approximately 1020. A witness, located one half mile south of the accident site, reported observing the aircraft mark the intended spray field with smoke markers from west to east, reverse course and initiate a spray run to the west. The witness stated that "the next pass from East to West was more difficult as it was between two houses with trees. He made his drop successfully but on his way up he banked to the left to miss the trees and house and hit part of the trees by the west house. The plane continues [sic] to climb to the left and then gradually turn - to the right, descending & crashing on his right wing & motor" (refer to STATEMENT S-I). A second witness, located along the east/west spray track and on the west edge of the spray field, reported observing the aircraft and stated "I looked out the east window to see a crop dusting plane flying just above the potatoes flying directly toward our house. I
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate clearance with obstacles. A contributing factor were the trees.
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Browse: Idaho · 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.
