Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Westmorland, CA
On June 20, 2002, an Air Tractor AT-301 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Westmorland, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 20, 2002
- Place
- Westmorland, CA
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.038°N, 115.564°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020621X00956
Official records · LAX02LA203
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 20, 2002, approximately 0040 Pacific daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8719S, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering near Westmorland, California. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Val-Air Co. Inc. of Brawley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed a private airstrip near Brawley at 0010. In written statements provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the owner reported the pilot was spraying a 70 acre cotton field from west to east, starting on the north side of the field. Power lines, approximately 40 to 60 feet high, bordered the south side of the field. One of the ground flagmen stated that on the next to the last pass flying to the east, the pilot pulled up out of the field, made a left turn, then a right turn to reverse direction. During the right turn the airplane's left wing struck the power lines, caught on fire and impacted a paved road which bordered the field on the south. The airplane came to rest inverted and oriented in a southwest direction. PERSONAL INFORMATION At the time of the accident the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for single engine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot reported on his most recent airman medical application a total time of 11,000 flight hours, with 300 flight hours in the last 6 months. The operator reported that the pil
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. A factor was the dark night condition.
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Browse: California · 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.
