Air Tractor Inc AT 502B accident near Basile, LA
On May 5, 2015, an Air Tractor Inc AT 502B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Basile, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 5, 2015
- Place
- Basile, LA
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor Inc AT 502B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.485°N, 92.601°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150505X63214
Official records · CEN15LA222
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 5, 2015, at 1241 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B single-engine airplane, N4221G, impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Basile, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lejeune Aerial Applications, LLC, Basile, Louisiana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed a private airstrip about 1220. According to local authorities and the operator, the pilot was applying dry granular fertilizer to a rice field. During the last application pass (west to east direction) of the field, the airplane contacted trees with the left wing. The airplane contacted several additional trees, traveled approximately 550 feet, and impacted terrain. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed a majority of the airplane. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 32, held a commercial pilot certificate, with airplane single-engine land and instrument ratings. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate was issued on January 26, 2015, with no limitations or restrictions. According to the operator, the pilot had accumulated approximately 1,000 total flight hours, and 500 hours in the accident airplane make and model. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe accident airplane was a 2009 Air Tractor AT-502B, serial number 502B-2668. Th
Probable cause
The pilot’ failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
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Browse: Louisiana · 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.
