Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fellsmere, Florida 32948
Tuesady, April 8, 2003 19:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he doesn't remember the accident, but he did report that during a spray run, he overshot the end of the field due to sun in his eyes. He also reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. According to the president of the Indian River Flying Service, Inc., the pilot was just starting to pull-up after completing a spray pass when the airplane collided with a tree then the ground. According to an officer with the Indian River County Sheriff Department, the airplane collided with a tree located in an open area, then impacted the ground. A debris path was scattered over a 300 to 350 yard area. The wreckage comprised of two large pieces, and a chemical odor was noted at the accident site.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The poor in-flight planning by the pilot-in-command for his overhsooting the pull-up following a spray pass resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then terrain. Contributing to the accident was sunglare that the pilot encountered during the spray pass.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Fellsmere
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32948
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 274338N
Event Location Longitude 0803753W
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 1953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KVRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 24
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15343
NTSB Notification Source Indian River County SD
NTSB Notification Date Apr 8 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1944
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4549N
NTSB Number MIA03LA094
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT- 401
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 401-0799
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Indian River Flying Service, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 690772
Aircraft Owner City Vero Beach
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32969
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1890 98th Avenue
Operator City Vero Beach
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32965
Operator Code IRXG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code X52
Departure City Vero Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1905
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code X52
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Mar 9 2004 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --