Air Tractor Inc AT 502B accident near Zamora, CA
On July 23, 2016, an Air Tractor Inc AT 502B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Zamora, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 23, 2016
- Place
- Zamora, CA
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor Inc AT 502B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.803°N, 121.767°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160723X20253
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 23, 2016, about 0745 Pacific daylight time (PDT), two Air Tractor AT-502Bs, N502WC, and N5044N, collided in-flight near Zamora, California. The commercial pilot of N502WC was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot of N5044N received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. N502WC was operated by Farm Air Flying Services, and N5044N was operated by Growers Air Service. Both flights were operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as aerial application flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight plans had been filed for both flights. The pilot of N502WC had finished spraying mosquito repellant and was traveling eastbound en route to Farm Air Flying Services. The pilot of N5044N had finished spraying a rice field and was traveling southbound en route to Growers Air Service. During a postaccident interview, the pilot of N5044N reported that he could not recall his altitude but stated that it would normally have been at least 500 ft above ground level (agl). He added that he observed N502WC on his right side traveling toward him when he maneuvered his airplane and ascended; however, N502WC contacted the undercarriage of his airplane and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot of N5044N was unable to maintain altitude and subsequently performed a forced landing to an open field. According to the pilot of N5044N, the pilot of N502WC would have been traveling toward the sun and likely did not see him before the collision. PERSONN
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. Also causal was the pilot's use of two sedating antihistamines and two impairing medication and the effect of sun glare on his visual lookout, which likely led to his inability to successfully see and avoid the other airplane.
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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.
