Air Tractor AT502 accident near Sumner, IA

On August 8, 2019, an Air Tractor AT502 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sumner, IA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

August 8, 2019

Place

Sumner, IA

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

42.848°N, 92.117°W

NTSB ID

20190808X54033

Official records · CEN19FA259

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 8, 2019, about 0721 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N6113C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Sumner, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, about 0615 and was destined for Oelwein Municipal Airport (OLZ), Oelwein, Iowa. A witness at OLZ reported that the pilot overflew the runway but then continued north. The airplane appeared to be intact, and the engine seemed to be running normally at that time. Based on multiple witness statements, the airplane continued about 14 miles north of OLZ before it turned south. Witnesses located about 2-1/2 miles north of the accident site reported observing the airplane overfly their homes at a low altitude. One witness noted that the airplane appeared to be in level flight, and the engine seemed to be operating normally. A witness near the accident site observed the airplane approach from the west-northwest in a constant 20° left turn. The airplane struck the power lines; however, the airplane's flightpath was not affected. The airplane then nearly struck a building before it struck a second set of power lines. It then veered left, and the nose dropped. The airplane subsequently impacted a road, skidded across the road, and impacted the ground near a large tree. A postimpact fire ensued. The witness added that nothing seemed to be unusual about the airplane before the initial wire strike except that it w

Probable cause

The pilot’s impairment by medical conditions and/or medications, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.