Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ringling, Oklahoma 73456
Thursday, October 8, 1998 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural airplane collided with poles and wires of a power line while applying chemical to a wheat field. At the time of the collision, the airplane was heading west, and the sun 'obstructed' the pilot's vision. Following the collision, which damaged the airplane's rudder, left flap, left spray boom, and fuselage, the pilot landed the airplane in a pasture approximately one mile north of the field.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance. A factor was the sun glare which impaired the pilot's vision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RINGLING
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73456
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 285
Weather Observation Facility ID LAW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1110
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 30000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 782
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1931
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N502S
NTSB Number FTW99LA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-502B
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-502B
Aircraft Serial Number 502B-0456
Certified Max Gross Weight 7860
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 465
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY T. NEAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3108 80TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City LUBBOCK
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79423
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SUPERIOR AG-AIR, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 274
Operator City BYERS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76357
Operator Code HGFG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F22
Departure City PERRY
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BYERS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --