Air Tractor AT-602 accident near Ralls, TX
On May 19, 2005, an Air Tractor AT-602 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ralls, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 19, 2005
- Place
- Ralls, TX
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-602 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.468°N, 101.293°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050525X00663
Official records · DFW05LA126
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On May 19, 2005, approximately 0944 central daylight time, a turbine-powered Air Tractor AT-602 agricultural airplane, N9017Z, registered to and operated by Mcadoo Flying Service, Inc., of Crosbyton, Texas, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an in-flight collision with an antenna tower while maneuvering near Ralls, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Crosbyton Airport (8F3), near Crosbyton, Texas. According to information gathered by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector, who responded to the accident site, the 21,000-hour pilot had completed his second aerial application of herbicide on mesquite trees and was en route back to 8F3. While maneuvering, the airplane struck a 197-foot high tower being utilized to collect weather observations approximately 14 miles southwest of 8F3. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain where a post impact fire ensued. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. Examination of the airplane and wreckage site by the FAA inspector revealed evidence that the airplane impacted the ground approximately 831 feet from the tower on a heading of 038 degrees. The outboard three feet of the right wing was separated and found adjacent to the base of the tower. The fuselage was fragmented throughout its length, and all five propeller blades were separated fro
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower. Contributing factors were the recency of the tower's construction and the lack of obstruction lights on the tower.
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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.
