Air Tractor AT-802A accident near Fort Stockton, TX
On May 7, 2000, an Air Tractor AT-802A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fort Stockton, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 7, 2000
- Place
- Fort Stockton, TX
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-802A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.889°N, 102.880°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21012
NTSB summary
On May 7, 2000, at 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A agricultural airplane, N60471, struck a tower while maneuvering near Fort Stockton, Texas. The aircraft, owned and operated by Payne Flying Service of Katy, Texas, and under contract with the Department of Interior, was spraying fire retardant on brush fires in the west Texas ranch land areas for the Texas Forestry Service. The airline transport pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, public use flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed the Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport, at 1230. A witness, located approximately 1/4-mile from the accident site, stated that the agricultural airplane was spraying fire retardant on an 8,000-acre fire. The witness observed the airplane bank "hard to his right" after dropping the fire retardant. The witness reported that "he [the airplane] was still in his turn or bank when he hit the guy wires of the radio tower." The witness heard two loud bangs, and observed the airplane impact the ground. The FAA inspector and airplane manufacturer representative, who responded to the accident site, found multiple strands of cable among the aircraft wreckage. The top 80 feet of the 300-foot antenna tower and the associated guide cables were destroyed. The wing skin of the airplane was found stripped from the spars. The engine and propeller were found separated from the airframe. All propeller blades were found bent and twisted. The FAA inspector re
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the antenna tower. A factor was the smoke weather condition.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
