Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas 72348
Sunday, April 17, 2011 6:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While spraying a field, the pilot reversed direction for another pass. During the pass, the pilot misjudged his altitude and impacted a tower with the airplane's propeller and inboard section of the right wing. During the impact sequence the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator separated. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing to a cornfield. The airplane came to rest in an upright position in an irrigation canal. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tower due to his inadequate visual lookout.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 650
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Horseshoe Lake
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72348
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 345420N
Event Location Longitude 0901806W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28643
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2011 4:28PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42015
NTSB Number CEN11CA294
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 INC
Aircraft Model AT-802A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 802A-0304
Certified Max Gross Weight 16000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 20 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1492
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AERIAL CROP SERVICES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3343 W HIGHWAY 80
Aircraft Owner City EAST PRAIRIE
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63845
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Frost Flying Service
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Marianna
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72360
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Horseshoe Lake
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Horseshoe Lake
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 16 2011 5:11PM
User who most recently changed record lebt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --